writing things?

- hogwarts legacy sideblog - main: @serenefreakgeek - cringe is dead

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

Masterlist

Hello! My name is Rook, they/them, 💛Hufflepuff🖤 and I'm 26 years old! I'm in central standard zone, and live in the US unfortunately. You can find my main blog @serenefreakgeek and my main writing blog at @serenefreakgeekao3

In this blog I only write for Hogwarts Legacy characters, xReaders mainly but I also accept ships!

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

*!* marks explicit content, minors dni, 18+ only

OMINIS GAUNT

Fancy series (WIP)

Fortunate Stumblings *!*

SEBASTIAN SALLOW

Fortunate Stumblings *!*

[birdy-trashpanda]

Remus J. Lupin

Inspired by Only The Brave

[homicideinvestigator]

[upthehillart]

"You look ravishing in green, Minister..."

Hermione and Pansy at a Ministry ball🥂

Spicy part 2 under the cut🌶️🔞👇

[ales-art]

I brought you a fairy tale about a warm autumn evening, about speed and adrenaline, about luck and the glitter of the golden snitch. Not in every fight the winner is the one on top =)

[heiziwei]

they’re a package pls do not separate 😔🙏

[iaooa]

"Dorm prefects have hidden duties"

Follow me at ko-fi for more illustrations and fanart:

https://ko-fi.com/iaooa#galleryItemView

And don't forget to tip me if you like my art and want to see more!

[alixvander]

Just a random sketch of them

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

instead of just a hogwarts legacy fanfic blog, im going to make this into my full HP blog (expect a lot of drarry things as well) just because i dont wanna share HP stuff on my main blog anymore. if y'all dont wanna see that, feel free to unfollow! <3

[vienguinn]

Happy memory 💕

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy strategies that may just work

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part ten of the fancy series - [Table of Contents]

Summary: Your friends rush around to complete their assigned tasks as you sit aside, antsy but unable to help. Or… can you? 

A/N: HELLO. I’ve been gone for so long. You probably thought this part was never coming didn’t you? A year of writer’s block is hell on the confidence, surely. Though, a special thank you to @sarahskywalker-amidala who not only commented, but motivated me to actually write out this chapter. Hope it reads as a nice continuation of the story, I really tried to match the tone of the rest of it. Let me know what you think! 

As it turns out, you have a front-row seat to watch as your plans unfold. It seems Eliza, now ever-so-angry at you, has decided to keep you in her line of sight at all times. Maybe not close by, but you always feel the itch on the back of your neck just to turn and see her there. Standing, sitting- always staring, glaring into your soul. You wouldn’t believe such a thing to be possible, but how could you be so sure with all the dark magic she dabbles in?

So yes, she always has you in her sight. Which makes it rather easy to keep her in your own- without raising suspicion, even. You were currently sitting at the Hufflepuff tables in the Great Hall- surprising many, considering you hadn’t eaten at this table since the beginning of the school year before you had officially met Ominis. You sat next to Poppy, trying your best to avoid looking antsy or excited as you watched Ominis sit at the red, Gryffindor table.

“You’re wiggling in your seat you know,” Poppy whispers over before taking a delicate bite with her fork. You’d just been poking your shepherd’s pie around in circles, turning it into a grey mush, and decided to just sit on your hands instead.

“I know,” You emphasize, glancing up to see Ominis try to take Eliza’s hand, only for her to snatch it away with a look you could only describe as a mix of confusion and infuriation. “But it’s only my entire life at stake here, you know.” You probably weren’t as quiet in your whisper as you should’ve been, but from the looks you garnered, you think most students assume you’re just exaggerating. If only.

Poppy reaches over to place a hand on your elbow, a gentle smile on her face. “Everything will work out, Y/N. You’ll see.” You stare into her sincere eyes, trying to read her face for any crack, but there’s none. It’s almost as if she fully believes her words.

“You’re so confident?”

“Of course, see,” Poppy nods her head in a direction, and you turn to look. Eliza was storming out of the Great Hall in a hurry, robes fluttering in her furious walk. “It’s working already.”

Ominis takes a deep breath as he crosses the threshold for the Great Hall, feeling the pulse of his magic waver out and around. In his mind, he finds a constructed image of what is around him, while recognizing people by registering the magical cores of those nearby, each different and unique. It wasn’t a physical appearance he could see, but instead the shape of their magic, shimmering like a bright light, twisting and flashing. He’s long since learned to tune out the hundreds of lights surrounding him- even being able to pick out familiar cores from a crowd.

He strode forward, keeping his pace even and his face blank. He’s had practice with this, of course, strolling the halls of Slytherin Manor with his head held high as if he deserved to be there. As if the cold wash of dark magic that clung to him with every step didn’t bother him. The tang of dark magic is hard to distinguish for most, but Ominis has an especially susceptive palate. Which made finding Eliza in the crowd of Gryffindors all the more easy. Once you touch dark magic, you’re forever tainted by it.

Ominis strode to the opposite house’s table, having never been here before but unwilling to show his awkwardness. Unfortunately, as it seems, two people were sitting on either side of Eliza already. ‘Oh well,’ Ominis thought to himself as he stopped behind his target, ‘I begin my plan before even seating myself.’ Ominis leaned down, tapping the shoulder of whoever was sitting to Eliza’s right. He didn’t recognize the core, but he never bothered to memorize those that weren’t pertinent.

“If I may be so bold, could I ask for you to make space so I may sit with my fiance?”

He felt the person he tapped begin to move at his request before freezing after registering the end of his sentence. Their head turned toward Eliza, whose head swung quickly to look directly toward Ominis. He was unsure what emotion she felt, but he could feel her core begin to rile up faster and more manic- taking this to mean she likely did not like what Ominis had just admitted to her house’s table. The student lowered their head almost in submission, resuming their movement until a space just big enough for Ominis was revealed. He doesn’t need to read everyone’s cores nearby to know they’re interested in what’s about to happen- as silence falls along this side of the table.

Elegantly, Ominis takes a seat right beside Eliza and reaches forward to feel for a bread roll. It takes a few tries, which feels awkward in the silence surrounding their section, but he manages to snag one and lower it to his lap under the table.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Eliza hisses into his ear, eerily reminiscent of a snake. ‘Perhaps she really should’ve been sorted Slytherin? She’s certainly cunning enough for it.’ Ominis suddenly feels a hand on his left arm, a fist wrapping around his whole wrist before squeezing to show her disapproval.

“I’m getting to know the woman I’m spending the rest of my life with,” Ominis answers easily, turning his face toward her direction. He has a bland smile on, refusing to show cracks in his mask. “Really, though. If you had wanted my hand, you could’ve asked me directly you know.” He feels a yank from his arm under the table, either another sign of her displeasure, or perhaps she was trying to pull him in closer. He doesn’t move, remaining composed for everyone watching. Her voice lowers further as if she could keep those sitting next to her from hearing.

“Stop this now. You know-” She cuts herself off, huffing out a breath.

“Know what, darling?” Ominis yanks his arm from her, deciding to forgo politeness and placing both elbows atop the table, joining his hands together in front of him while dropping the bread roll among his plates. “That we’re to be wed directly after graduation?” He leans into her space, attempting a flirty smile on his lips. “I know that’s only a month from now, but why wait? We’re to be wed anyway, what’s the harm in starting early?”

He feels the table shake under his arms as a rather loud slam echoes around their small group, Eliza having slapped a hand down onto the table.

“I am not your plaything,” Eliza growls out, and Ominis couldn’t resist huffing out a laugh from the irony. He reaches forward, draping a hand over Eliza’s newly available hand, trying to take it as a lover’s embrace.

“Oh, but of course you are, darling.” Eliza yanks her hand away immediately, her core growing larger in his senses, blotting out the students behind her. “Don’t you know? You’re marrying into a pureblood family. We’re all about tradition. I, of course, will go out and earn myself a respectable job and manage the finances of our home and property. You, my dear Eliza, will mother my children and be my accessory for the balls we’re sure to attend.” Ominis turns his head away, taking up a cloth napkin and snapping it in the air to unfold it, laying it across his lap. “Once we’re married, you’ll be bound to our bond. You’ll do everything I ask and more.”

“It doesn’t work like that!” Eliza yells out, her voice furious, the light of her core flickering with the fog of dark magic, swirling and prodding- trying to get out. “It won’t be like that!”

“How little you know of our customs, Eliza,” Ominis begins, letting his voice quiet so the students around them couldn’t hear quite as well. It would only raise their curiosity, he hoped. “I would’ve thought someone of your intelligence would’ve researched Salazar Slytherin’s marriage ceremony. Being of his descent, we follow along with his rituals exactly.”

“You-” Eliza began, fidgeting in her seat next to him, before stuttering on, “I- No, it can’t-” She was breathing heavily, and Ominis was surprised it had been so easy to rile her up. She wasn’t expecting it this time, however, but he was sure she would realize what he was doing soon enough. Eliza stands suddenly, throwing her napkin onto the table and storming away. Ominis dips his fork into what he thinks is shepherd’s pie, raising it to his mouth. ‘I guess I’m stuck here for the rest of lunch…’

Natsai was in pain. Perhaps not as much pain as her father’s death, or moving away from her home. But she’d known Eliza for so long- well, thought she knew Eliza. They never officially put a title between them, but they had frequently met up for close talks. Cuddling, whispers, even stolen kisses. It just breaks her heart to remember them now, tainted with the knowledge of Eliza’s dark magic. How could she do such a thing?

‘No, Natsai,’ She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. ‘Don’t focus on that now. You have to pretend it doesn’t matter. You have to convince her.’ Natty takes a look down at the scroll she has in hand before looking around her surroundings frantically. She had heard from multiple Gryffindors that Eliza had run into the library, and Natty was going there to meet her. Just before the doors, she ducks into an alcove, unrolling the parchment.

It was a mess of scrawls in her own hand. She tried to make it look legitimate, like she had scrawled it hastily with the intent to not forget such important details. It was useful, as both ‘evidence’ of what she had seen, but also to keep her story straight. She hoped Eliza wouldn’t see through her, with her uncanny, piercing eyes. Natty used to find her stare reassuring, like Eliza could see right through Natty to her soul. She had wanted that at one point. Now it just felt invasive.

Taking another deep breath, Natty burst from the alcove and walked with a renewed sense of urgency, trying her best to play the part. She ran down the steps into the library, calling a quiet apology to the librarian who told her to slow down. The library was rather big, but it didn’t take as long as she’d thought to find her. She was sitting in the history section of the library, a dark green tome opened to some old parchment, the ink barely visible from age. Natty didn’t bother herself with trying to read it. She pulls out a seat right next to Eliza, plopping herself down into the seat. Eliza seems intent on ignoring her- likely what she would’ve done if it was anyone but Natsai.

“Look,” Natty begins, and at the sound of her voice Eliza looks up quickly, hope clear in her eyes. She scrambles to close the tome as Natty shakily raises her parchment onto the table. “I know we’re not talking right now because of the fight, but-” Natsai takes in a shaky breath, and has to keep from jumping up once she feels Eliza’s hand lightly across her back. “But I still-” The words are choking her, forming a lump in her throat.

“Natty?” Eliza speaks her nickname hesitantly, slightly rubbing her hand up and down Natsai’s back. She has to take a moment to steel herself, but she manages to turn and lock eyes with Eliza.

“But I still love you. And I don’t want you hurt.” Eliza turns from hopeful and astonished, straight toward confused and hesitant once more.

“Hurt?” At this, Natty turns back to her slightly torn parchment, unrolling it with a shake of her head.

“I was out gathering herbs when I came across a group of poachers.” Eliza’s hand on her back turns into a fist, but Natty quickly turns to her to try to calm her. “I’m fine, I managed to hide myself away. But I did end up hearing something that they probably didn’t want me to hear.” Natty turns back to the parchment, pointing at random words jotted down in scribbles. The parchment looks confusing almost, like a piecemeal of a greater whole. “They’re planning to steal everything from you, all of your money and valuables- whatever is in your vault.” “That’s not possible, no one is able to break into Gringotts.”

“That’s what I thought too, but,” Natty shakes her head, trying to project confidence, “They were so sure about it. I don’t think they’d be breaking in. I think they have someone on the inside.”

“Who?” Natty shakes her head again, turning away to look at the parchment. It hurt to look into her eyes for too long at a time.

“They didn’t say, they were careful about that at least. They tried to not say your name, even, but how they described their target- I mean, the hero of Hogwarts is you at this point, everyone thinks so.” Natty watched Eliza preen from the compliment slightly from the corner of her eye. “But they said without any resources, you’d be weak and then they could strike. I don’t know their plans after, but I do know that if we stop that robbery, we can foil their plans from the start.”

After too long a silence, Natty finally turns her head to view Eliza. Her head was nodding absentmindedly as she stared at the paper. “You’re right, that could probably work. And I could keep an eye down there, see if I can catch whoever is planning this to begin with.” Natty takes a deep breath, hoping her psychology will work in her next step.

“Yeah! So all you need to do is just open a second vault, and move all your stuff there! Then you could set a trap in the first one!” Eliza’s brows immediately furrow at her words, and Natsai can’t help but feel a little self-satisfied.

“I don’t know if that’ll work,” Eliza answers slowly, playing into Natty’s hands.

“Really? Why not?”

“Well, if they have someone on the inside, then the second vault will still pop up if they look up my name. I’ll need to move everything somewhere that’s not tied to me.” Finally, Eliza raises her eyes to Natty, locking her there. Eliza leans forward, taking both of Natsai’s hands in her own. “Natty, you are the only one I trust completely. Would you be willing to open a vault in your name? I’ll be sure no one can link me to you during this, I wouldn’t ever want you in harm’s way.”

Natty takes a deep breath, steeling herself further. A pain twists in her gut, wanting nothing more than to lean forward into Eliza’s arms, while also knowing what pain she’s capable of- what she’s already done. Natty nods slowly and has to force herself to relax as Eliza leans forward to wrap her arms around Natty, pulling her into a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much, Natty.” Natty’s eyes remain open, staring over Eliza’s shoulder.

“Let’s draft that vault request, shall we?”

Sebastian had skipped classes today. That’ll surely come back to bite him in the ass.

Oh well.

Sebastian was currently hunkered down in a small village north of Hogsmeade, having done his best to enact his plan. Everything had to be precise- the Auror of the village had to be called away at the right time, the creature had to be ushered into the village after she left, and Eliza had to be sure to show up. It didn’t take much sleuthing though, to find out that Eliza was just as well-known and liked in this village as she was back in Hogwarts proper. Knowing this, she likely knew the Auror living here, so Sebastian decided to steal a paper from the Auror’s home to learn her handwriting. Then he forged a letter that invites Eliza down for an important discussion, the details just vague enough that even Sebastian would’ve been curious enough to take up the offer.

He’s been keeping an eye on the sky, watching for her broom for the last hour. It feels like three, but Sebastian had never excelled at patience. He’ll leave that to Poppy and Y/N, their own house’s ideals focused around that. Sebastian was plucking grass from the ground, letting it flutter away in the light breeze before repeating the gesture, blowing through his lips in boredom. He’d been so zoned out that he almost missed the dot of Eliza appearing in the distance, scrambling down quickly from his vantage point. He throws his wand outward, shooting a spark off in the distance that’s hopefully hidden from Eliza’s view.

The spark acts as two parts of his plans- he watches as Auror Ruth Singer notices the flare and immediately grabs the broom beside her, apologizing to whom she was speaking before jumping up and rushing in the direction. Nodding, Sebastian turns his attention downward, below the cliff. As predicted, the flare awoke the ogre he had managed to poke and prod into place, angering it. (That had taken the majority of his day, and had cost him his new pants, sporting a large hole in the knee.) It slams its club twice against the cliff before running up the path to the village.

Eliza lands near the Auror’s home, jumping off of her broom and setting it aside before approaching the villager that the Auror had just been speaking to. The person points off in the direction that she had flown- and ends up pointing directly at the ogre as it runs into the village with a loud roar. Sebastian hunkers down further, unwilling to be seen. As predicted, Eliza springs into action. Reds, blues, spells are flung from Eliza’s wand as she approaches calmly. Sebastian knew this would be an easy battle for her, but that wasn’t the point. He reaches down quickly, taking hold of the large contraption in his bag.

Once green begins to fly from Eliza’s wand, Sebastian feels she’s suitably distracted. He jumps on his own broom, flying down closer to get a better vantage. She’s making a show of the fight for the villagers, who have all cautiously gathered around in curiosity. Sebastian lugs up the camera from his bag, trying to hold it still and catch the perfect shot from beside a house. Just as Eliza is finishing off the Ogre, keeping it from grabbing a nearby villager, Sebastian takes the photo.

Then, promptly takes his leave. He has a letter to write to the Prophet.

‘Dear Merwilda Gaunt,

To say I was surprised when you accepted Eliza’s proposal would be the understatement of the century, though I wouldn’t dare to doubt the plans formulating inside your masterful mind. Although, Eliza Fig, really? Sure, she’s a pureblood, but a poverty-stricken, muggle-loving witch at that. However, it’s beyond my place to speak of such matters, I’m sure. At least I know that I’ll find a like-minded soul with her, so thank you for that.

Your ignoble son,

Ominis Gaunt’

“Ignoble?” Poppy questions, sitting amongst the group of you and your friends in the Undercroft, most holding their own letters they need to send out. Ominis sighs at your side, reaching a hand out to take your own. You flip your hand over, lacing your fingers with his, and take pride as you watch his shoulders visibly relax. The quill that had been dictating Ominis’ words falls to the table, now inactive as the ink dries.

“Ignoble is to be of low birth, or common origin. I’m trying to impress upon her my ‘lowly’ status in her eyes.” Sebastian scoffs at Ominis’ words, speaking up in response.

“Ok dictionary, calm down with the definitions there.”

“Well, I did ask,” Poppy acquiesces, shrugging her shoulders. Sebastian, sitting at her side, just leans over and bumps his shoulder against hers. You’re unsure of the significance, but they share a smile that seems just for them.

“I have Eliza’s written vault transfer request, as well as my own request to open the new vault in my name. I-” She chuckles, shaking her head as she taps the papers against the table, “I’m surprised she went along with it.”

“I’m not,” You whisper, trying to send a sympathetic smile toward her. She only sniffs in response, sitting straighter in her chair. Garreth finally chimes in, resting his elbows on the table while leaning against them, his shoulders hunched forward.

“So, we have the vault transfer request, to move Eliza’s money. We have the news report,” He nods toward Sebastian’s mix of a letter and a few different copies of the picture he had taken at some point- you were unsure when considering it wasn’t a free day from classes- as he’s trying to shove all of the items into an envelope. Poppy reaches over and gentles his hands, helping him fit them all without tearing. “And we have the letter to Ominis’ mother to check on both. Is there anything we’re missing?”

“The trap,” Natty speaks up, finally laying her papers on the table and leaning forward. Sebastian’s face crumples in confusion, wrinkles appearing on his forehead while his nose scrunches.

“Trap? That’s what we’re doing now.”

“No,” Natty explains, lifting her hands in the air in emphasis, “The trap in Eliza’s vault. She wants to try to catch the supposed thief, right? So that’s when we do it! She’ll no doubt use an unforgivable, and getting an Auror down into the vaults of Gringotts shouldn’t be too hard if we mention that there’s a robbery happening. They’ll catch her!”

“I thought we dropped this,” Garreth mumbled, moving to rub his face with his hands. “We are not subjecting anyone to the unforgivables, even if we aren’t casting it. Even just to get Eliza arrested. We can’t plan something like that without being guilty ourselves.”

“But-” Natty begins, but Sebastian interrupts, Poppy next to him shaking her head lightly toward Natty with an expression of pity.

“No, Natty. We can figure out a plan to deal with Eliza after we save our friend.” Sebastian nods toward Ominis, Poppy nodding along to his words now as she places her hand on Sebastian’s arm.

“Like Garreth said. If we plan for Eliza to use the Unforgivable, then we’re just as in the wrong.” You watch Natty slump, a flash of pain crossing her face before she hardens her expression. She turns, locking eyes with you. It feels significant- you’re unsure why but you have a feeling that you’ll find out soon enough.

“If there’s nothing else, let’s get to the Owlery. The sooner we send these off, the better.” Garreth stands, already taking a few steps toward the exit while also waiting for the rest of you. Poppy giggles, shaking her head as she stands to meet him.

“You just want to go to sleep sooner.”

“Well, yeah! I’ve been missing a lot of sleep, meeting up with you guys here!”

“Are you sure it’s not all the early-morning ‘secret’ potion brewing you’ve been doing?” Poppy questions, causing Garreth to scoff and retort. Your attention is drawn away, however, to Ominis and Sebastian as they flank you toward the exit.

“Do you really think this could work?” Ominis whispers under the laughter of your friends, and both you and Sebastian turn toward him immediately. The insecurity that colours his voice hurts you, and of course you’re not sure. This all seems too mad, you don’t think you’ve even fully processed the implications of what’ll happen if it doesn’t work.

“Of course, it’ll work,” Sebastian immediately pipes up, following the too-long beat when you hadn’t responded. “It’s going to work.” Ominis’ hand, still linked with yours, squeezes gently as if asking for your reply. You bite your lip, unafraid of showing your fear on your face. Sebastian raises his eyebrows toward you, nodding his head toward Ominis. With a deep breath, you’re able to respond.

“Yes,” It comes out in a hiss, so you clear your throat and try again. “Yes. This will work.” You stare into the distance- toward your friends, but through them. If it didn’t? If Eliza is allowed to marry Ominis, ruining what’s building between the two of you, then what else would she do? Certainly, she wouldn’t stop there. “It has to work.”

Her eyes bore into you from across the Great Hall, though today you’ve decided not to let her know you care. You refuse to meet her eyeline, trying your best to pay attention to Poppy’s early-morning ramble about the new creature that’s to be arriving soon, and how exactly she plans to befriend and groom it. You weren’t even sure what the creature was at this point, having lost focus on her words so many times. You just nod along to her, trying your best to engage in the conversation.

It’s almost nice, sitting back at the Hufflepuff table. Being surrounded by your own house colours felt like a barrier that Eliza couldn’t cross. Though, you knew you’d feel much better if Ominis had been sitting next to you as well. Unfortunately for both of you, Ominis was sitting right next to Eliza once again. (Known to you from Poppy’s words, mixed in amongst her rambles so that you’d know without having to turn her direction.)

The conversations in the hall begin to grow louder in excitement, and you raise your head hopefully toward the high windows. The morning delivery was starting, flocks of owls ducking in and dropping packages, letters, and newspapers amongst the entirety of the room. The hall was a flurry of motion, but you were determined. You grabbed the closest copy of the Prophet you could, looking down toward the headline amongst the chaos.

ELIZA FIG SAVES MUGGLEBORN AND MUGGLES ALIKE - ANOTHER NAME TO ABOLISH BLOOD PURITY

You try to keep your expression neutral, flippantly turning a page as if the front page wasn’t heralding exactly what you wanted to see. Pretending to read the paper, you managed to keep yourself from jumping as an enchanted note fluttered up from under the table. Someone was likely using the chaos of the room to send it to you without notice. It unfolds and lays itself against your newspaper, revealing its contents.

‘You know what we need to do. Let’s talk. - Natsai’

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

Tag List Reblog! @ominismylove @cerulione @littletealight @sugarcandyblue @seppys-return-to-madness @chonkercatto @amarisout @honeylemon21 @goddesofimortality @ceddar-cheez @crystalferret202 @zoleea-exultant @what-is-happening-helpp @blind-but-not-deaf @theegotisticalwriter @sarahskywalker-amadala @amelliss @nightless @boo8008

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy strategies that may just work

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part ten of the fancy series - [Table of Contents]

Summary: Your friends rush around to complete their assigned tasks as you sit aside, antsy but unable to help. Or… can you? 

A/N: HELLO. I’ve been gone for so long. You probably thought this part was never coming didn’t you? A year of writer’s block is hell on the confidence, surely. Though, a special thank you to @sarahskywalker-amidala who not only commented, but motivated me to actually write out this chapter. Hope it reads as a nice continuation of the story, I really tried to match the tone of the rest of it. Let me know what you think! 

As it turns out, you have a front-row seat to watch as your plans unfold. It seems Eliza, now ever-so-angry at you, has decided to keep you in her line of sight at all times. Maybe not close by, but you always feel the itch on the back of your neck just to turn and see her there. Standing, sitting- always staring, glaring into your soul. You wouldn’t believe such a thing to be possible, but how could you be so sure with all the dark magic she dabbles in?

So yes, she always has you in her sight. Which makes it rather easy to keep her in your own- without raising suspicion, even. You were currently sitting at the Hufflepuff tables in the Great Hall- surprising many, considering you hadn’t eaten at this table since the beginning of the school year before you had officially met Ominis. You sat next to Poppy, trying your best to avoid looking antsy or excited as you watched Ominis sit at the red, Gryffindor table.

“You’re wiggling in your seat you know,” Poppy whispers over before taking a delicate bite with her fork. You’d just been poking your shepherd’s pie around in circles, turning it into a grey mush, and decided to just sit on your hands instead.

“I know,” You emphasize, glancing up to see Ominis try to take Eliza’s hand, only for her to snatch it away with a look you could only describe as a mix of confusion and infuriation. “But it’s only my entire life at stake here, you know.” You probably weren’t as quiet in your whisper as you should’ve been, but from the looks you garnered, you think most students assume you’re just exaggerating. If only.

Poppy reaches over to place a hand on your elbow, a gentle smile on her face. “Everything will work out, Y/N. You’ll see.” You stare into her sincere eyes, trying to read her face for any crack, but there’s none. It’s almost as if she fully believes her words.

“You’re so confident?”

“Of course, see,” Poppy nods her head in a direction, and you turn to look. Eliza was storming out of the Great Hall in a hurry, robes fluttering in her furious walk. “It’s working already.”

Ominis takes a deep breath as he crosses the threshold for the Great Hall, feeling the pulse of his magic waver out and around. In his mind, he finds a constructed image of what is around him, while recognizing people by registering the magical cores of those nearby, each different and unique. It wasn’t a physical appearance he could see, but instead the shape of their magic, shimmering like a bright light, twisting and flashing. He’s long since learned to tune out the hundreds of lights surrounding him- even being able to pick out familiar cores from a crowd.

He strode forward, keeping his pace even and his face blank. He’s had practice with this, of course, strolling the halls of Slytherin Manor with his head held high as if he deserved to be there. As if the cold wash of dark magic that clung to him with every step didn’t bother him. The tang of dark magic is hard to distinguish for most, but Ominis has an especially susceptive palate. Which made finding Eliza in the crowd of Gryffindors all the more easy. Once you touch dark magic, you’re forever tainted by it.

Ominis strode to the opposite house’s table, having never been here before but unwilling to show his awkwardness. Unfortunately, as it seems, two people were sitting on either side of Eliza already. ‘Oh well,’ Ominis thought to himself as he stopped behind his target, ‘I begin my plan before even seating myself.’ Ominis leaned down, tapping the shoulder of whoever was sitting to Eliza’s right. He didn’t recognize the core, but he never bothered to memorize those that weren’t pertinent.

“If I may be so bold, could I ask for you to make space so I may sit with my fiance?”

He felt the person he tapped begin to move at his request before freezing after registering the end of his sentence. Their head turned toward Eliza, whose head swung quickly to look directly toward Ominis. He was unsure what emotion she felt, but he could feel her core begin to rile up faster and more manic- taking this to mean she likely did not like what Ominis had just admitted to her house’s table. The student lowered their head almost in submission, resuming their movement until a space just big enough for Ominis was revealed. He doesn’t need to read everyone’s cores nearby to know they’re interested in what’s about to happen- as silence falls along this side of the table.

Elegantly, Ominis takes a seat right beside Eliza and reaches forward to feel for a bread roll. It takes a few tries, which feels awkward in the silence surrounding their section, but he manages to snag one and lower it to his lap under the table.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Eliza hisses into his ear, eerily reminiscent of a snake. ‘Perhaps she really should’ve been sorted Slytherin? She’s certainly cunning enough for it.’ Ominis suddenly feels a hand on his left arm, a fist wrapping around his whole wrist before squeezing to show her disapproval.

“I’m getting to know the woman I’m spending the rest of my life with,” Ominis answers easily, turning his face toward her direction. He has a bland smile on, refusing to show cracks in his mask. “Really, though. If you had wanted my hand, you could’ve asked me directly you know.” He feels a yank from his arm under the table, either another sign of her displeasure, or perhaps she was trying to pull him in closer. He doesn’t move, remaining composed for everyone watching. Her voice lowers further as if she could keep those sitting next to her from hearing.

“Stop this now. You know-” She cuts herself off, huffing out a breath.

“Know what, darling?” Ominis yanks his arm from her, deciding to forgo politeness and placing both elbows atop the table, joining his hands together in front of him while dropping the bread roll among his plates. “That we’re to be wed directly after graduation?” He leans into her space, attempting a flirty smile on his lips. “I know that’s only a month from now, but why wait? We’re to be wed anyway, what’s the harm in starting early?”

He feels the table shake under his arms as a rather loud slam echoes around their small group, Eliza having slapped a hand down onto the table.

“I am not your plaything,” Eliza growls out, and Ominis couldn’t resist huffing out a laugh from the irony. He reaches forward, draping a hand over Eliza’s newly available hand, trying to take it as a lover’s embrace.

“Oh, but of course you are, darling.” Eliza yanks her hand away immediately, her core growing larger in his senses, blotting out the students behind her. “Don’t you know? You’re marrying into a pureblood family. We’re all about tradition. I, of course, will go out and earn myself a respectable job and manage the finances of our home and property. You, my dear Eliza, will mother my children and be my accessory for the balls we’re sure to attend.” Ominis turns his head away, taking up a cloth napkin and snapping it in the air to unfold it, laying it across his lap. “Once we’re married, you’ll be bound to our bond. You’ll do everything I ask and more.”

“It doesn’t work like that!” Eliza yells out, her voice furious, the light of her core flickering with the fog of dark magic, swirling and prodding- trying to get out. “It won’t be like that!”

“How little you know of our customs, Eliza,” Ominis begins, letting his voice quiet so the students around them couldn’t hear quite as well. It would only raise their curiosity, he hoped. “I would’ve thought someone of your intelligence would’ve researched Salazar Slytherin’s marriage ceremony. Being of his descent, we follow along with his rituals exactly.”

“You-” Eliza began, fidgeting in her seat next to him, before stuttering on, “I- No, it can’t-” She was breathing heavily, and Ominis was surprised it had been so easy to rile her up. She wasn’t expecting it this time, however, but he was sure she would realize what he was doing soon enough. Eliza stands suddenly, throwing her napkin onto the table and storming away. Ominis dips his fork into what he thinks is shepherd’s pie, raising it to his mouth. ‘I guess I’m stuck here for the rest of lunch…’

Natsai was in pain. Perhaps not as much pain as her father’s death, or moving away from her home. But she’d known Eliza for so long- well, thought she knew Eliza. They never officially put a title between them, but they had frequently met up for close talks. Cuddling, whispers, even stolen kisses. It just breaks her heart to remember them now, tainted with the knowledge of Eliza’s dark magic. How could she do such a thing?

‘No, Natsai,’ She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. ‘Don’t focus on that now. You have to pretend it doesn’t matter. You have to convince her.’ Natty takes a look down at the scroll she has in hand before looking around her surroundings frantically. She had heard from multiple Gryffindors that Eliza had run into the library, and Natty was going there to meet her. Just before the doors, she ducks into an alcove, unrolling the parchment.

It was a mess of scrawls in her own hand. She tried to make it look legitimate, like she had scrawled it hastily with the intent to not forget such important details. It was useful, as both ‘evidence’ of what she had seen, but also to keep her story straight. She hoped Eliza wouldn’t see through her, with her uncanny, piercing eyes. Natty used to find her stare reassuring, like Eliza could see right through Natty to her soul. She had wanted that at one point. Now it just felt invasive.

Taking another deep breath, Natty burst from the alcove and walked with a renewed sense of urgency, trying her best to play the part. She ran down the steps into the library, calling a quiet apology to the librarian who told her to slow down. The library was rather big, but it didn’t take as long as she’d thought to find her. She was sitting in the history section of the library, a dark green tome opened to some old parchment, the ink barely visible from age. Natty didn’t bother herself with trying to read it. She pulls out a seat right next to Eliza, plopping herself down into the seat. Eliza seems intent on ignoring her- likely what she would’ve done if it was anyone but Natsai.

“Look,” Natty begins, and at the sound of her voice Eliza looks up quickly, hope clear in her eyes. She scrambles to close the tome as Natty shakily raises her parchment onto the table. “I know we’re not talking right now because of the fight, but-” Natsai takes in a shaky breath, and has to keep from jumping up once she feels Eliza’s hand lightly across her back. “But I still-” The words are choking her, forming a lump in her throat.

“Natty?” Eliza speaks her nickname hesitantly, slightly rubbing her hand up and down Natsai’s back. She has to take a moment to steel herself, but she manages to turn and lock eyes with Eliza.

“But I still love you. And I don’t want you hurt.” Eliza turns from hopeful and astonished, straight toward confused and hesitant once more.

“Hurt?” At this, Natty turns back to her slightly torn parchment, unrolling it with a shake of her head.

“I was out gathering herbs when I came across a group of poachers.” Eliza’s hand on her back turns into a fist, but Natty quickly turns to her to try to calm her. “I’m fine, I managed to hide myself away. But I did end up hearing something that they probably didn’t want me to hear.” Natty turns back to the parchment, pointing at random words jotted down in scribbles. The parchment looks confusing almost, like a piecemeal of a greater whole. “They’re planning to steal everything from you, all of your money and valuables- whatever is in your vault.” “That’s not possible, no one is able to break into Gringotts.”

“That’s what I thought too, but,” Natty shakes her head, trying to project confidence, “They were so sure about it. I don’t think they’d be breaking in. I think they have someone on the inside.”

“Who?” Natty shakes her head again, turning away to look at the parchment. It hurt to look into her eyes for too long at a time.

“They didn’t say, they were careful about that at least. They tried to not say your name, even, but how they described their target- I mean, the hero of Hogwarts is you at this point, everyone thinks so.” Natty watched Eliza preen from the compliment slightly from the corner of her eye. “But they said without any resources, you’d be weak and then they could strike. I don’t know their plans after, but I do know that if we stop that robbery, we can foil their plans from the start.”

After too long a silence, Natty finally turns her head to view Eliza. Her head was nodding absentmindedly as she stared at the paper. “You’re right, that could probably work. And I could keep an eye down there, see if I can catch whoever is planning this to begin with.” Natty takes a deep breath, hoping her psychology will work in her next step.

“Yeah! So all you need to do is just open a second vault, and move all your stuff there! Then you could set a trap in the first one!” Eliza’s brows immediately furrow at her words, and Natsai can’t help but feel a little self-satisfied.

“I don’t know if that’ll work,” Eliza answers slowly, playing into Natty’s hands.

“Really? Why not?”

“Well, if they have someone on the inside, then the second vault will still pop up if they look up my name. I’ll need to move everything somewhere that’s not tied to me.” Finally, Eliza raises her eyes to Natty, locking her there. Eliza leans forward, taking both of Natsai’s hands in her own. “Natty, you are the only one I trust completely. Would you be willing to open a vault in your name? I’ll be sure no one can link me to you during this, I wouldn’t ever want you in harm’s way.”

Natty takes a deep breath, steeling herself further. A pain twists in her gut, wanting nothing more than to lean forward into Eliza’s arms, while also knowing what pain she’s capable of- what she’s already done. Natty nods slowly and has to force herself to relax as Eliza leans forward to wrap her arms around Natty, pulling her into a hug.

“I’ve missed you so much, Natty.” Natty’s eyes remain open, staring over Eliza’s shoulder.

“Let’s draft that vault request, shall we?”

Sebastian had skipped classes today. That’ll surely come back to bite him in the ass.

Oh well.

Sebastian was currently hunkered down in a small village north of Hogsmeade, having done his best to enact his plan. Everything had to be precise- the Auror of the village had to be called away at the right time, the creature had to be ushered into the village after she left, and Eliza had to be sure to show up. It didn’t take much sleuthing though, to find out that Eliza was just as well-known and liked in this village as she was back in Hogwarts proper. Knowing this, she likely knew the Auror living here, so Sebastian decided to steal a paper from the Auror’s home to learn her handwriting. Then he forged a letter that invites Eliza down for an important discussion, the details just vague enough that even Sebastian would’ve been curious enough to take up the offer.

He’s been keeping an eye on the sky, watching for her broom for the last hour. It feels like three, but Sebastian had never excelled at patience. He’ll leave that to Poppy and Y/N, their own house’s ideals focused around that. Sebastian was plucking grass from the ground, letting it flutter away in the light breeze before repeating the gesture, blowing through his lips in boredom. He’d been so zoned out that he almost missed the dot of Eliza appearing in the distance, scrambling down quickly from his vantage point. He throws his wand outward, shooting a spark off in the distance that’s hopefully hidden from Eliza’s view.

The spark acts as two parts of his plans- he watches as Auror Ruth Singer notices the flare and immediately grabs the broom beside her, apologizing to whom she was speaking before jumping up and rushing in the direction. Nodding, Sebastian turns his attention downward, below the cliff. As predicted, the flare awoke the ogre he had managed to poke and prod into place, angering it. (That had taken the majority of his day, and had cost him his new pants, sporting a large hole in the knee.) It slams its club twice against the cliff before running up the path to the village.

Eliza lands near the Auror’s home, jumping off of her broom and setting it aside before approaching the villager that the Auror had just been speaking to. The person points off in the direction that she had flown- and ends up pointing directly at the ogre as it runs into the village with a loud roar. Sebastian hunkers down further, unwilling to be seen. As predicted, Eliza springs into action. Reds, blues, spells are flung from Eliza’s wand as she approaches calmly. Sebastian knew this would be an easy battle for her, but that wasn’t the point. He reaches down quickly, taking hold of the large contraption in his bag.

Once green begins to fly from Eliza’s wand, Sebastian feels she’s suitably distracted. He jumps on his own broom, flying down closer to get a better vantage. She’s making a show of the fight for the villagers, who have all cautiously gathered around in curiosity. Sebastian lugs up the camera from his bag, trying to hold it still and catch the perfect shot from beside a house. Just as Eliza is finishing off the Ogre, keeping it from grabbing a nearby villager, Sebastian takes the photo.

Then, promptly takes his leave. He has a letter to write to the Prophet.

‘Dear Merwilda Gaunt,

To say I was surprised when you accepted Eliza’s proposal would be the understatement of the century, though I wouldn’t dare to doubt the plans formulating inside your masterful mind. Although, Eliza Fig, really? Sure, she’s a pureblood, but a poverty-stricken, muggle-loving witch at that. However, it’s beyond my place to speak of such matters, I’m sure. At least I know that I’ll find a like-minded soul with her, so thank you for that.

Your ignoble son,

Ominis Gaunt’

“Ignoble?” Poppy questions, sitting amongst the group of you and your friends in the Undercroft, most holding their own letters they need to send out. Ominis sighs at your side, reaching a hand out to take your own. You flip your hand over, lacing your fingers with his, and take pride as you watch his shoulders visibly relax. The quill that had been dictating Ominis’ words falls to the table, now inactive as the ink dries.

“Ignoble is to be of low birth, or common origin. I’m trying to impress upon her my ‘lowly’ status in her eyes.” Sebastian scoffs at Ominis’ words, speaking up in response.

“Ok dictionary, calm down with the definitions there.”

“Well, I did ask,” Poppy acquiesces, shrugging her shoulders. Sebastian, sitting at her side, just leans over and bumps his shoulder against hers. You’re unsure of the significance, but they share a smile that seems just for them.

“I have Eliza’s written vault transfer request, as well as my own request to open the new vault in my name. I-” She chuckles, shaking her head as she taps the papers against the table, “I’m surprised she went along with it.”

“I’m not,” You whisper, trying to send a sympathetic smile toward her. She only sniffs in response, sitting straighter in her chair. Garreth finally chimes in, resting his elbows on the table while leaning against them, his shoulders hunched forward.

“So, we have the vault transfer request, to move Eliza’s money. We have the news report,” He nods toward Sebastian’s mix of a letter and a few different copies of the picture he had taken at some point- you were unsure when considering it wasn’t a free day from classes- as he’s trying to shove all of the items into an envelope. Poppy reaches over and gentles his hands, helping him fit them all without tearing. “And we have the letter to Ominis’ mother to check on both. Is there anything we’re missing?”

“The trap,” Natty speaks up, finally laying her papers on the table and leaning forward. Sebastian’s face crumples in confusion, wrinkles appearing on his forehead while his nose scrunches.

“Trap? That’s what we’re doing now.”

“No,” Natty explains, lifting her hands in the air in emphasis, “The trap in Eliza’s vault. She wants to try to catch the supposed thief, right? So that’s when we do it! She’ll no doubt use an unforgivable, and getting an Auror down into the vaults of Gringotts shouldn’t be too hard if we mention that there’s a robbery happening. They’ll catch her!”

“I thought we dropped this,” Garreth mumbled, moving to rub his face with his hands. “We are not subjecting anyone to the unforgivables, even if we aren’t casting it. Even just to get Eliza arrested. We can’t plan something like that without being guilty ourselves.”

“But-” Natty begins, but Sebastian interrupts, Poppy next to him shaking her head lightly toward Natty with an expression of pity.

“No, Natty. We can figure out a plan to deal with Eliza after we save our friend.” Sebastian nods toward Ominis, Poppy nodding along to his words now as she places her hand on Sebastian’s arm.

“Like Garreth said. If we plan for Eliza to use the Unforgivable, then we’re just as in the wrong.” You watch Natty slump, a flash of pain crossing her face before she hardens her expression. She turns, locking eyes with you. It feels significant- you’re unsure why but you have a feeling that you’ll find out soon enough.

“If there’s nothing else, let’s get to the Owlery. The sooner we send these off, the better.” Garreth stands, already taking a few steps toward the exit while also waiting for the rest of you. Poppy giggles, shaking her head as she stands to meet him.

“You just want to go to sleep sooner.”

“Well, yeah! I’ve been missing a lot of sleep, meeting up with you guys here!”

“Are you sure it’s not all the early-morning ‘secret’ potion brewing you’ve been doing?” Poppy questions, causing Garreth to scoff and retort. Your attention is drawn away, however, to Ominis and Sebastian as they flank you toward the exit.

“Do you really think this could work?” Ominis whispers under the laughter of your friends, and both you and Sebastian turn toward him immediately. The insecurity that colours his voice hurts you, and of course you’re not sure. This all seems too mad, you don’t think you’ve even fully processed the implications of what’ll happen if it doesn’t work.

“Of course, it’ll work,” Sebastian immediately pipes up, following the too-long beat when you hadn’t responded. “It’s going to work.” Ominis’ hand, still linked with yours, squeezes gently as if asking for your reply. You bite your lip, unafraid of showing your fear on your face. Sebastian raises his eyebrows toward you, nodding his head toward Ominis. With a deep breath, you’re able to respond.

“Yes,” It comes out in a hiss, so you clear your throat and try again. “Yes. This will work.” You stare into the distance- toward your friends, but through them. If it didn’t? If Eliza is allowed to marry Ominis, ruining what’s building between the two of you, then what else would she do? Certainly, she wouldn’t stop there. “It has to work.”

Her eyes bore into you from across the Great Hall, though today you’ve decided not to let her know you care. You refuse to meet her eyeline, trying your best to pay attention to Poppy’s early-morning ramble about the new creature that’s to be arriving soon, and how exactly she plans to befriend and groom it. You weren’t even sure what the creature was at this point, having lost focus on her words so many times. You just nod along to her, trying your best to engage in the conversation.

It’s almost nice, sitting back at the Hufflepuff table. Being surrounded by your own house colours felt like a barrier that Eliza couldn’t cross. Though, you knew you’d feel much better if Ominis had been sitting next to you as well. Unfortunately for both of you, Ominis was sitting right next to Eliza once again. (Known to you from Poppy’s words, mixed in amongst her rambles so that you’d know without having to turn her direction.)

The conversations in the hall begin to grow louder in excitement, and you raise your head hopefully toward the high windows. The morning delivery was starting, flocks of owls ducking in and dropping packages, letters, and newspapers amongst the entirety of the room. The hall was a flurry of motion, but you were determined. You grabbed the closest copy of the Prophet you could, looking down toward the headline amongst the chaos.

ELIZA FIG SAVES MUGGLEBORN AND MUGGLES ALIKE - ANOTHER NAME TO ABOLISH BLOOD PURITY

You try to keep your expression neutral, flippantly turning a page as if the front page wasn’t heralding exactly what you wanted to see. Pretending to read the paper, you managed to keep yourself from jumping as an enchanted note fluttered up from under the table. Someone was likely using the chaos of the room to send it to you without notice. It unfolds and lays itself against your newspaper, revealing its contents.

‘You know what we need to do. Let’s talk. - Natsai’

[irenkharab]

I haven't drawn fan art in ages, but I played a lot of Hogwarts Legacy during the vacations. I really liked the character of Ominis. Now fanfiction he's my guilty pleasure.

[joanasallinger]

Unfortunately I’m rather busy for the time being. I hope I have more time to draw again soon and get back to my unfinished video. :<

Managed to edit this pic at least. <3

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy letters that herald atrocities

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part nine of the fancy series - [ToC]

Summary: Ominis has received a letter from none other than his mother, speaking of horrifying news. However, this is just another obstacle to overcome. Surely there’s something you can do?

After that particular revelation (in case you missed it, Ominis is now engaged), Sebastian had set about corralling you and Ominis both down toward the Undercroft. You didn’t even really remember half the journey until Ominis had stopped the lot of you to grab your arms, half shaking you and begging you to answer him. When you hummed in response, you heard a quick, “This isn’t the place for this conversation, Ominis,” from Sebastian before he continued to push the both of you toward the hidden room.

You didn’t pay any mind to the fact that you had classes coming up soon, this new information rocking you to your core. What were you supposed to do with this information? What had he meant by defective?

“Alright Ominis, I think it’s time we read that letter.” You blinked and looked around, realizing you were already in the Undercroft. Ominis, who apparently had not stopped clutching that damned letter, practically threw the piece of paper at Sebastian before approaching you. He placed his hands on your arms once more, ducking his head as if he could look into your eyes.

“Y/N, say something, please.”

“I’m here, Ominis,” You mumble, watching his shoulders relax before he wraps you into his arms, pulling you close. As you rest your head against his chest you begin to wonder how many more times you’re allowed to do this. Were you even allowed to right now? “So does this mean-”

“This means nothing, Y/N.” The conviction in Ominis’ voice would usually be comforting. Even now, you found it hard not to be comforted and he pulls you closer, rubbing his cheek against your head, “ Nothing for us, anyway.”

“But, Ominis,” You sigh, pulling back. He lets you, hesitantly, as if he doesn’t want to let go. “This means everything.”

“Y/N, I-”

“I don’t know how far you were thinking, Ominis,” You mumble, lowering your voice as you stare at the green stripes on his tie, “And granted, I wasn’t specifically thinking of marriage either. But- well, it would’ve been nice. Eventually. But we can’t even be together if-”

“Don’t say that, Y/N.” The pain in his voice, in his face, as you looked up, caused a surge of the same to spear through your heart.

“What else am I supposed to say, Ominis?” Your eyes tear up as you stare up at the man you loved- and yes, love, how inconvenient a time to realize that. You reach to take his hands into yours, pulling them up to your chest. “What can we do, Ominis?”

“Anything,” Ominis begs, pulling your conjoined hands up and pressing kisses to your own. “Anything, please. As long as you’re by my side, then I know I can fight this. We can fight this.” You sniff, watching the pain on his face as if looking in a mirror.

“I’ll always be by your side Ominis.” You watch his face crumple with relief, pulling your hands up once more to lay his lips across your hands. He left them there, closing his eyes and looking as if he were in prayer.

“Ominis,” Sebastian calls from a few feet away, sitting on a dusty wooden chair and hunched over the piece of parchment. “How far into this letter did you go?”

“Not very,” He calls out toward him, emotions clear in his voice. He clears his throat, opening his eyes to look in your general direction. “Just enough to get the gist of the letter.”

“I don’t think you’ll like the rest of it either,” Sebastian mumbles, raising a hand to chew at his thumbnail. You bounce back and forth on your feet, biting your lip as you watch your friend read the paper you desperately wished you could read.

“Read it aloud, Sebastian,” Ominis calls out suddenly, and you raised surprised eyes up to Ominis. Sebastian must’ve been feeling the same, as the hesitancy was evident in his voice.

“Are you sure about that, Ominis?”

“Y/N wants to hear it,” Ominis mumbles back, pulling you close and wrapping his arms around you once more. “Let them hear it.” Sebastian pulls a face but clears his throat anyway.

‘Dear my inutile son, For however many discussions we’ve had on this topic, it seems a miracle has happened. I know we’ve all made agreements, arrangements that must now be broken. When we accepted your pleas of avoidance, to leave your comforting family behind, we were so sure you would bring nothing but misery to this home. So we had agreed, as you know, with our own terms that you had readily subjected yourself to. Really, what Gaunt would willingly lower themself to such a standard of living? Muggles, really? In any case, our family has been saved with an offer from the grace of Merlin, surely. A letter was sent to our home, inside written with intentions and feelings and all those little things that the kids your age tend to think mean a lot more than they do. Inside was something that your father and I searched for, at length, for an absurd amount of time for the solution to just be dropped into our lap. It seems that such a lovely, pureblooded woman not only wants your hand in marriage but practically begged for it. She said she was willing to give up anything, and her vaults in addition to ours- along with her famous name- would gleam brilliantly alongside our name. Salazar knows why she wants you, but she asked for your name specifically. I’ve already sent out our agreeance, and the wedding is set to happen right after Graduation. Your father is busy booking the wedding venue and rooms for those attending, and I’m busy planning out the perfect setting for our almost-nonexistent ceremony. Everything will be ready and perfect for when the both of you portkey in afterwards. It’ll be a week-long event, much to celebrate now that we know you’re not completely worthless to us. You should thank her for the help, as you’re finally being accepted into our family. You’re officially a man of the Gaunts, so be sure to act like it. No more fraternizing with mudbloods, no more playing house with muggles and their ilk, and absolutely no more making a blind fool of yourself. Your father and I bought as many ways as possible to help with your ailment, go ahead and act like it for once. Your portkey will be shipped out on the last week of term and is set to activate an hour after graduation. Be sure you and Eliza are ready and packed, the celebration begins the night you’ve arrived back home. Sincerely and satisfied, Merwilda Gaunt’

You let out a shuddering breath, attempting to keep the chills within, as you weren’t sure what shaking in Ominis’ arms to his own mother’s words would make the man think. Silence enveloped all of you, and you took another deep breath, mind flashing back to that time with Natty.

“If you want to take the one thing I love away, then I’ll do the same to you. You’ll regret ever crossing me.”

“It’s my fault,” You whisper, and immediately feel Ominis pull back from you. He places his hands on your arms once more, attempting to turn you to face him. His face is set, serious, and hardened from years of having to deal with his family. With the Gaunts.

“Don’t you dare say that.”

“It is, though,” You continue on, turning your pained gaze over to Sebastian. He only looked on toward you, waiting for an explanation, but you could see understanding in his eyes. He knew what you meant. “Eliza found me with Natty after we met up that last time. I was walking her to class- I guess that was the first time they saw each other since she took me to see the unicorn.”

“Since she kidnapped you, you mean?” You let out a sigh, turning to look into Ominis’ eyes. He seemed desperate, and you weren’t sure why. Desperate for you? Desperate to be out of this situation?

“Sure, that.” You take a deep breath, scanning his face as if you could read through the stone wall he’s now presented. “But she found us. And when Natty didn’t forgive her- well, then she…” You trailed off, biting your lip as you watched Ominis furrow his brow and huff in agitation.

“Did she do something to you?”

“She did something to you Ominis, not me.” Your voice was so quiet when you spoke, you were unsure if either of them heard you. But this was a quiet room, and they were used to the silence. You cleared your throat and tried to push through, “She threatened to take what I loved most away because she believes I took Natty away from her.”

“No,” Ominis insists, squeezing his hands against you, “This wasn’t you. This was my damned mother- she’s always tried her best to make my life miserable.”

“And Eliza has dropped an opportunity right into her lap,” Sebastian inserts, pushing with a creak to stand, moving his way over as he held the offending letter off to the side. “Blaming ourselves will get nowhere, but I’m glad at least Ominis is taking my advice to heart. He’s blaming his mother, as he should, instead of himself.” Ominis grumbles lightly under his breath, lowering his head as if embarrassed. “But you should listen too.” Sebastian faces you, a serious expression you hardly ever see cross his face anymore pulling you back to reality. “This isn’t your fault. This entire fucked-up situation is all due to Eliza and Merwilda.”

“So what are we going to do about it?” Ominis practically growled out his sentence, turning a foul look over toward Sebastian. Just as quickly the expression fell away, revealing only pain. He apologizes quietly to Sebastian for the tone before his friend continues.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make Eliza think that spending her life with you, just purely out of spite, is not worth it.” He pokes Ominis as he speaks, then turns to lock eyes with you. “And we’re going to also do everything in our power to make a lifetime tied with Eliza Fig as unappealing to Merwilda as possible, as well.”

“How will we manage that?” You could feel the hope growing in your chest, even though the doubt still kept a firm hold. “We already tried going over ways to expose Eliza-”

“Exposing Eliza would be a lot harder than making Merwilda not want anything to do with her.” Sebastian shrugs, lifting the paper with a flick and letting his eyes scan along the page. “There’s a lot of things that woman hates.”

“The problem is that she hates everything that Eliza isn’t,” Ominis complains, linking hands with you once more and pulling you close by them. He lets his eyes fall closed, running his thumb against your hand. “She’s a pureblood, she has some awful sort of powerful magic that no one has seen before, and she’s already shown her apparent interest in the Unforgivables. Merwilda would love her.” You tighten your grapes on his hands, hating the reminder of what his family had done to him.

“Likewise, how are we to get Eliza to find Ominis unbearable?” You look up into his handsome face, unable to hold back a soft smile. “I mean, he’s wonderful? He’s an absolute gentleman, he’s incredibly handsome, and he’s one of the most intelligent and powerful men that I know.” You hear a soft ‘hey’ come from Sebastian’s direction, though it feels more just to fuck around than for any sort of hurt caused. You huff a short laugh, shaking your head, “And besides, if she’s hellbent on taking you away from me, she may not even notice all of those fantastic elements. She might not even care how you are, as long as being with you hurts me.”

“Ominis can be a right pain when he wants to be,” Sebastian inserts with ease, his voice bored as his eyes continue to scan the parchment. He had been slowly making his way to his previous chair, finally taking a seat in it with another creak. “I’m not too worried about that aspect.”

“So we find out which friends of Eliza’s are muggleborn. If she’s seen talking with them, with muggles even, then that would get back to Merwilda. Salazar knows she’s having that witch watched as she has with me my whole life.” You push forward and trap your conjoined hands between your bodies, laying your head against Ominis’ chest. He takes a deep breath before continuing, “And as far as I know, Eliza hasn’t told anyone else about her ancient power. As long as that stays secret, Merwilda won’t have an additional reason to marry her into the family.”

“Surely there’s more we can do,” Sebastian mumbles, looking up and tapping the parchment to his chin. “Merwilda certainly hates a lot of things.” Ominis hums and you feel the vibration run through your head down to your own chest.

“Maybe we could start a rumour that she’s a werewolf?”

“Unique, I’ll give you that,” Sebastian compliments, pointing that foul paper toward him before resuming his tapping, “But no one would believe that. And it’s easier to prove she isn’t than to falsify evidence that she is.”

“She could be found helping a house elf?”

“What house elf? The only ones we have access to are the ones at Hogwarts, which don’t need help, or the ones in your own manor. And there’s no way she’d free one of them willfully under Merwilda’s gaze.”

“So what else would shy her away?” You lift your head from Ominis, your gaze landing on the parchment in Sebastian’s hands. “She mentioned that Eliza being rich was a plus. Would her losing her money help with our cause?”

“She’s incredibly vain, she wouldn’t sell me away for nothing.” Ominis nodded, his face locked in concentration.

“So, are we stealing all of her money?” You laugh at Sebastian’s question, then hesitate as he turns a serious gaze to you. “I’m not joking, I’m completely here for stealing all of her money.”

“We know you are, Sebastian,” Ominis sighs out, running a hand through his hair. This action pulls at the normally combed-back style, slightly messing up the hair on his head. You couldn’t help but feel enamoured by the messy style. “However, exactly how do you suppose we are to break into a Gringotts vault?”

“Well, maybe we don’t need to actually steal it?” You suggest with hesitation, both men turned their attention to you. “We can just make it look as though she did?”

“Better suggestion, but how-”

“We could say that someone has a plan on her vault,” Sebastian begins, wringing his hands together in thought. “She could go to the goblins and request her fortune be moved somewheres else. Then the next time anyone checks- Merwilda has contacts I’m sure- then her vault would be empty.”

“If it’s in her name-” Ominis begins before Sebastian interrupts him once more, standing with a flourish.

“Then it shan’t be in her name!” Sebastian grins, walking closer. “Obviously we wouldn’t be the ones to tell her. We need someone she trusts explicitly, someone who would be able to convince her to put her fortune in their name so the ‘thief’ can’t find it. Lay a trap in her vault or something, I don’t know.”

“The only person I know that she trusts completely is Natty,” You add on unhelpfully, shrugging, “And I really doubt she’d be willing to talk to Eliza.”

“If it’s to take Eliza down, she would,” Ominis mumbles, crossing his arms. “She was pretty adamant about that last time we spoke.”

“So we have our plan then!” Sebastian calls out with a grin, and you huff a breath, tilting your head.

“We do?”

“Yes! I have a spectacular plan involving the muggles and whatnot- don’t ask, you don’t want to know.” You hesitate, furrowing your brow at this, but nod along anyway. “So I have the muggle thing taken care of, Ominis will do everything in his power to annoy Eliza to no end, and you,” He points to you with a grin, “Will be the one to convince Natty- or whoever else she trusts enough if Natty says no- to follow along with our plan! This could work!”

“How is Ominis-”

“I have all the faith in you Ominis!” Sebastian calls out behind himself as he walks away, beginning a jog toward the exit. “All of it! You can do this!” With that he disappears through the door, leaving you and Ominis alone. You turn to him, tilting your head in thought.

“Don’t worry about what I’ll have to say to Eliza, Y/N,” Ominis begins, withdrawing his wand and flicking it gently to light the end with his usual red pulse. “I have some ideas, just-” He hesitates, raising a hand to rub the back of his head, “If you happen to be around anytime I’m performing for Eliza, please don’t take anything I say to heart. I’ll be saying anything necessary to chase her away, even if I don’t actually believe what I say.”

“It’s okay, Ominis, I get it.” You gently run your hand down his arm, ending at the hand holding his wand. You could see the pulsing red flicker just slightly before resuming its regular pulse. “I won’t hold anything you say to Eliza against you. She shouldn’t have tried to involve you in the first place.” Ominis slides his wand into his pocket, reaching forward to take your hand.

“Don’t you say this is your fault again, Y/N.”

“If it weren’t for me-”

“Eliza is fully to blame for this. For all of this.” Ominis pulls you closer, sliding his free hand from your shoulder up to your cheek. “I’m glad I’m finally involved, so I can help you officially. My only concern is the way I’m involved brings you pain, and I wish none of that for you.”

“You could never bring me pain, Ominis,” You try to reassure him, but he only shakes his head, tightening his hold on your hand. You raise your own free hand up to place against his on your cheek, and you lean into it slightly.

“Of course I could, don’t be ridiculous. I never want to, of course, but everyone is capable of dealing pain.”

“Ominis-”

“I’ve cast Crucio before.” Ominis’ statement has you pausing, raising your eyes up to meet his own milky gaze. You tried to decide whether you believed him, though his grim tone and expression only further proved his point. Plus, he wouldn’t joke about something like this.

“On purpose?”

“It has to be cast on purpose, Y/N.” He sighs, sounding defeated, and tries to pull his hands away. You only tighten your own in response, not letting him escape.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Was there a reason?”

“Y/N-”

“Tell me the reason you did it, Ominis.” You take his hand off of your cheek, though refuse to let go still. You’re once again holding each other’s hands, though you were the one rubbing your thumb on his hand now. “I don’t believe you did it purely for the fun of it.” He sighs again, and you only wished you could take that world-weary expression from him. He seemed to wear it constantly now.

“My family forced me.”

“Exactly! So-”

“I still cast it, Y/N.”

“Under threat from your family.” You pull on his hands, trying to tug him into minding you. “You are not to blame.”

“I am absolutely to blame for that, Y/N!”

“What would they have done if you didn’t?” He tries to repeat your name, shaking his head, but you only repeat your sentence harsher. He eventually sighs, answering quietly.

“They would’ve performed it on me.”

“Exactly. You were saving yourself, Ominis. There was nothing you could’ve done about it, no answer is the right one in that situation.” You watch a tear slowly manifest on the corner of his eye, falling slowly down his cheek.

“I don’t deserve you, Y/N.”

“Sure you do,” You whisper, pulling him closer to you. You raise his hands to your lips, pressing a kiss to each knuckle. “If you didn’t deserve my love then I don’t think anybody would. And that would be a pretty lonely existence.” Ominis is quiet for a long moment, and you raise your eyes to see his blue eyes. They really were beautiful, in a haunting sort of way. You wondered what was going on behind those eyes, thoughts running wild in his gaze. You find out soon enough.

“You love me?” He sounded breathless in disbelief, tightening his hold on your hands. “Is that what you said?”

“Yes, Ominis,” You couldn’t help but whisper, looking up into his face. Your eyes trace his beauty marks, landing finally on his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you,” Ominis replies quickly before pulling you forward, slotting his lips with yours. He pulls one hand free, placing it on your cheek before sliding it to the back of your head, pulling you as if you could get any closer than you were. You use your now free hand to drag along his side, trailing your fingers along his torso. By the time you both pull away, you’re breathing heavily and Ominis can’t stop smiling. “Merlin save me, but I love you so.”

“Then we shall do everything in our power to stay together.” Ominis’ smile falls slightly, using his hand to pull you closer.

“Nothing will stand between us, I assure you.”

“She did what?!”

You wince at the volume of Natty’s voice, waving a hand in apology at the rest of the students as they try to shush her. Natty pays them no mind, grabbing your arm with both of her hands. “She did what?” She repeats the notion again, her eyes burning a hole in the side of your head.

“Do I really need to say it again?”

“No, of course not,” Natty spits out, grunting in annoyance. “That little-”

“I need your help.” Natty’s gaze snaps up to you, furrowing her brow.

“What is it that I can do? I have no connection to any of the Gaunts, and I wouldn’t know where to begin to stop a wedding.”

“I already have a plan,” You admit softly, scanning the library around you before leaning in closer to her. You wince, watching her face as you finally say, “But it requires you to become friendly with Eliza once more.” Natty's expression hardens further, and you're about to excuse her from participating when she speaks up.

"What all would I need to do?"

"We need to convince her that a thief is looking to steal all of her gold." The confusion that crosses Natty's face is warranted, but you soldier on. "If you tell her, then she'll believe it a lot easier. We only need her to move her gold to a different vault long enough for Merwilda- oh, uh, Ominis’ mother- to check and see that she has nothing.”

“So, we’re pretending she’s poor?” Natty pursed her lips, tilting her head. “And that matters to his mother?”

“It’s the only thing that matters to her, from what I’ve gathered,” You couldn’t keep the aggravation from your tone, but it seemed mirrored on Natty so you didn’t feel too bad.

“But if Merwilda is able to check something like that, who’s to say that she can’t just tell it was moved?”

“That’s the thing, we need it in a different name than her own.”

“Moving all of her gold to a new vault and a new name?” Natty shakes her head, leaning back in her chair. “Seems impossible. Wouldn’t that money legally be in whoever’s name then?”

“That’s why it has to be you,” Your voice is whispered, and if you hadn’t already been leaning in close to her you would’ve moved in. Still, you reached to take one of her hands, holding it in your own. “You tell her you’ve found a thief and a well-thought-out plan. That you have to move her fortune, but the only way to protect it would be to put in someone else’s name so they wouldn’t be able to just look up her new vault on the goblin’s archives.” She nods slowly, tilting her head in thought.

“We could say we need to place a trap in her current vault to catch the thief.”

“Yes! That’s perfect.”

“And the thief is a poacher. Or a well known one maybe,” She bites her lip and you nod along, squeezing her hand. At this she finally meets your eyes again, a slow smile growing. “I can’t say I’m looking forward to talking to her again- especially getting so close that she listens to this. But this is an entrance into catching her, isn’t it?” You hesitate at this, tilting your head.

“Catching her?”

“Sending her to Azkaban!” You hesitate once more and she sighs, grasping your hand more firmly. “I know that we all said we’d drop it, but you agree! Don’t you? With what she’s done, there needs to be consequences.”

“It can be a stepping stone toward that,” You finally yield to her, nodding slowly. “But I don’t know if this plan is the exact way to go about that-”

“Oh, I know, I know.” Natty sighs, her entire body relaxing before your eyes. Perhaps this was weighing heavier on her mind than anyone had initially suspected.

“Nat?” You begin hesitantly, and she just eyes you with trepidation in response. “I know this is a bit personal, but…” You bite your lip, watching Natty’s eyes. Her expression doesn’t change, but you can see recognition in her eyes. It’s like she knew what you were going to ask already, which helped it slip out, “Were you and Eliza an item?” She sighs slowly, raising a hand to rub her face.

“Not quite,” She begins, tilting her head back and forth in consideration before huffing again with a shrug, “But, in a way. Yes.”

“And so that’s why-”

“That’s why she wants me back so badly. That’s why she went after your Ominis when she decided to blame you for all of her problems.”

“I’m sorry, Nat,” You whisper, watching Natty’s face crumple into something resembling grief, tears beginning to form in her eyes. When she speaks it’s barely a voice, like she has a frog in her throat.

“It’s been so hard,” She chokes out a sob, leaning forward toward you, “I’ve had no one to talk to about it. About all this- about her. What am I supposed to do?” She looks up at you with tear-stained cheeks. “What do you do when the woman you love becomes a monster?”

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

Tag List Reblog!

@ominismylove @cerulione @littletealight @sugarcandyblue @seppys-return-to-madness @chonkercatto @amarisout @honeylemon21 @goddesofimortality @ceddar-cheez @crystalferret202 @zoleea-exultant @what-is-happening-helpp @blind-but-not-deaf @theegotisticalwriter @sarahskywalker-amadala @amelliss

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy letters that herald atrocities

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part nine of the fancy series - [ToC]

Summary: Ominis has received a letter from none other than his mother, speaking of horrifying news. However, this is just another obstacle to overcome. Surely there’s something you can do?

After that particular revelation (in case you missed it, Ominis is now engaged), Sebastian had set about corralling you and Ominis both down toward the Undercroft. You didn’t even really remember half the journey until Ominis had stopped the lot of you to grab your arms, half shaking you and begging you to answer him. When you hummed in response, you heard a quick, “This isn’t the place for this conversation, Ominis,” from Sebastian before he continued to push the both of you toward the hidden room.

You didn’t pay any mind to the fact that you had classes coming up soon, this new information rocking you to your core. What were you supposed to do with this information? What had he meant by defective?

“Alright Ominis, I think it’s time we read that letter.” You blinked and looked around, realizing you were already in the Undercroft. Ominis, who apparently had not stopped clutching that damned letter, practically threw the piece of paper at Sebastian before approaching you. He placed his hands on your arms once more, ducking his head as if he could look into your eyes.

“Y/N, say something, please.”

“I’m here, Ominis,” You mumble, watching his shoulders relax before he wraps you into his arms, pulling you close. As you rest your head against his chest you begin to wonder how many more times you’re allowed to do this. Were you even allowed to right now? “So does this mean-”

“This means nothing, Y/N.” The conviction in Ominis’ voice would usually be comforting. Even now, you found it hard not to be comforted and he pulls you closer, rubbing his cheek against your head, “ Nothing for us, anyway.”

“But, Ominis,” You sigh, pulling back. He lets you, hesitantly, as if he doesn’t want to let go. “This means everything.”

“Y/N, I-”

“I don’t know how far you were thinking, Ominis,” You mumble, lowering your voice as you stare at the green stripes on his tie, “And granted, I wasn’t specifically thinking of marriage either. But- well, it would’ve been nice. Eventually. But we can’t even be together if-”

“Don’t say that, Y/N.” The pain in his voice, in his face, as you looked up, caused a surge of the same to spear through your heart.

“What else am I supposed to say, Ominis?” Your eyes tear up as you stare up at the man you loved- and yes, love, how inconvenient a time to realize that. You reach to take his hands into yours, pulling them up to your chest. “What can we do, Ominis?”

“Anything,” Ominis begs, pulling your conjoined hands up and pressing kisses to your own. “Anything, please. As long as you’re by my side, then I know I can fight this. We can fight this.” You sniff, watching the pain on his face as if looking in a mirror.

“I’ll always be by your side Ominis.” You watch his face crumple with relief, pulling your hands up once more to lay his lips across your hands. He left them there, closing his eyes and looking as if he were in prayer.

“Ominis,” Sebastian calls from a few feet away, sitting on a dusty wooden chair and hunched over the piece of parchment. “How far into this letter did you go?”

“Not very,” He calls out toward him, emotions clear in his voice. He clears his throat, opening his eyes to look in your general direction. “Just enough to get the gist of the letter.”

“I don’t think you’ll like the rest of it either,” Sebastian mumbles, raising a hand to chew at his thumbnail. You bounce back and forth on your feet, biting your lip as you watch your friend read the paper you desperately wished you could read.

“Read it aloud, Sebastian,” Ominis calls out suddenly, and you raised surprised eyes up to Ominis. Sebastian must’ve been feeling the same, as the hesitancy was evident in his voice.

“Are you sure about that, Ominis?”

“Y/N wants to hear it,” Ominis mumbles back, pulling you close and wrapping his arms around you once more. “Let them hear it.” Sebastian pulls a face but clears his throat anyway.

‘Dear my inutile son, For however many discussions we’ve had on this topic, it seems a miracle has happened. I know we’ve all made agreements, arrangements that must now be broken. When we accepted your pleas of avoidance, to leave your comforting family behind, we were so sure you would bring nothing but misery to this home. So we had agreed, as you know, with our own terms that you had readily subjected yourself to. Really, what Gaunt would willingly lower themself to such a standard of living? Muggles, really? In any case, our family has been saved with an offer from the grace of Merlin, surely. A letter was sent to our home, inside written with intentions and feelings and all those little things that the kids your age tend to think mean a lot more than they do. Inside was something that your father and I searched for, at length, for an absurd amount of time for the solution to just be dropped into our lap. It seems that such a lovely, pureblooded woman not only wants your hand in marriage but practically begged for it. She said she was willing to give up anything, and her vaults in addition to ours- along with her famous name- would gleam brilliantly alongside our name. Salazar knows why she wants you, but she asked for your name specifically. I’ve already sent out our agreeance, and the wedding is set to happen right after Graduation. Your father is busy booking the wedding venue and rooms for those attending, and I’m busy planning out the perfect setting for our almost-nonexistent ceremony. Everything will be ready and perfect for when the both of you portkey in afterwards. It’ll be a week-long event, much to celebrate now that we know you’re not completely worthless to us. You should thank her for the help, as you’re finally being accepted into our family. You’re officially a man of the Gaunts, so be sure to act like it. No more fraternizing with mudbloods, no more playing house with muggles and their ilk, and absolutely no more making a blind fool of yourself. Your father and I bought as many ways as possible to help with your ailment, go ahead and act like it for once. Your portkey will be shipped out on the last week of term and is set to activate an hour after graduation. Be sure you and Eliza are ready and packed, the celebration begins the night you’ve arrived back home. Sincerely and satisfied, Merwilda Gaunt’

You let out a shuddering breath, attempting to keep the chills within, as you weren’t sure what shaking in Ominis’ arms to his own mother’s words would make the man think. Silence enveloped all of you, and you took another deep breath, mind flashing back to that time with Natty.

“If you want to take the one thing I love away, then I’ll do the same to you. You’ll regret ever crossing me.”

“It’s my fault,” You whisper, and immediately feel Ominis pull back from you. He places his hands on your arms once more, attempting to turn you to face him. His face is set, serious, and hardened from years of having to deal with his family. With the Gaunts.

“Don’t you dare say that.”

“It is, though,” You continue on, turning your pained gaze over to Sebastian. He only looked on toward you, waiting for an explanation, but you could see understanding in his eyes. He knew what you meant. “Eliza found me with Natty after we met up that last time. I was walking her to class- I guess that was the first time they saw each other since she took me to see the unicorn.”

“Since she kidnapped you, you mean?” You let out a sigh, turning to look into Ominis’ eyes. He seemed desperate, and you weren’t sure why. Desperate for you? Desperate to be out of this situation?

“Sure, that.” You take a deep breath, scanning his face as if you could read through the stone wall he’s now presented. “But she found us. And when Natty didn’t forgive her- well, then she…” You trailed off, biting your lip as you watched Ominis furrow his brow and huff in agitation.

“Did she do something to you?”

“She did something to you Ominis, not me.” Your voice was so quiet when you spoke, you were unsure if either of them heard you. But this was a quiet room, and they were used to the silence. You cleared your throat and tried to push through, “She threatened to take what I loved most away because she believes I took Natty away from her.”

“No,” Ominis insists, squeezing his hands against you, “This wasn’t you. This was my damned mother- she’s always tried her best to make my life miserable.”

“And Eliza has dropped an opportunity right into her lap,” Sebastian inserts, pushing with a creak to stand, moving his way over as he held the offending letter off to the side. “Blaming ourselves will get nowhere, but I’m glad at least Ominis is taking my advice to heart. He’s blaming his mother, as he should, instead of himself.” Ominis grumbles lightly under his breath, lowering his head as if embarrassed. “But you should listen too.” Sebastian faces you, a serious expression you hardly ever see cross his face anymore pulling you back to reality. “This isn’t your fault. This entire fucked-up situation is all due to Eliza and Merwilda.”

“So what are we going to do about it?” Ominis practically growled out his sentence, turning a foul look over toward Sebastian. Just as quickly the expression fell away, revealing only pain. He apologizes quietly to Sebastian for the tone before his friend continues.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to make Eliza think that spending her life with you, just purely out of spite, is not worth it.” He pokes Ominis as he speaks, then turns to lock eyes with you. “And we’re going to also do everything in our power to make a lifetime tied with Eliza Fig as unappealing to Merwilda as possible, as well.”

“How will we manage that?” You could feel the hope growing in your chest, even though the doubt still kept a firm hold. “We already tried going over ways to expose Eliza-”

“Exposing Eliza would be a lot harder than making Merwilda not want anything to do with her.” Sebastian shrugs, lifting the paper with a flick and letting his eyes scan along the page. “There’s a lot of things that woman hates.”

“The problem is that she hates everything that Eliza isn’t,” Ominis complains, linking hands with you once more and pulling you close by them. He lets his eyes fall closed, running his thumb against your hand. “She’s a pureblood, she has some awful sort of powerful magic that no one has seen before, and she’s already shown her apparent interest in the Unforgivables. Merwilda would love her.” You tighten your grapes on his hands, hating the reminder of what his family had done to him.

“Likewise, how are we to get Eliza to find Ominis unbearable?” You look up into his handsome face, unable to hold back a soft smile. “I mean, he’s wonderful? He’s an absolute gentleman, he’s incredibly handsome, and he’s one of the most intelligent and powerful men that I know.” You hear a soft ‘hey’ come from Sebastian’s direction, though it feels more just to fuck around than for any sort of hurt caused. You huff a short laugh, shaking your head, “And besides, if she’s hellbent on taking you away from me, she may not even notice all of those fantastic elements. She might not even care how you are, as long as being with you hurts me.”

“Ominis can be a right pain when he wants to be,” Sebastian inserts with ease, his voice bored as his eyes continue to scan the parchment. He had been slowly making his way to his previous chair, finally taking a seat in it with another creak. “I’m not too worried about that aspect.”

“So we find out which friends of Eliza’s are muggleborn. If she’s seen talking with them, with muggles even, then that would get back to Merwilda. Salazar knows she’s having that witch watched as she has with me my whole life.” You push forward and trap your conjoined hands between your bodies, laying your head against Ominis’ chest. He takes a deep breath before continuing, “And as far as I know, Eliza hasn’t told anyone else about her ancient power. As long as that stays secret, Merwilda won’t have an additional reason to marry her into the family.”

“Surely there’s more we can do,” Sebastian mumbles, looking up and tapping the parchment to his chin. “Merwilda certainly hates a lot of things.” Ominis hums and you feel the vibration run through your head down to your own chest.

“Maybe we could start a rumour that she’s a werewolf?”

“Unique, I’ll give you that,” Sebastian compliments, pointing that foul paper toward him before resuming his tapping, “But no one would believe that. And it’s easier to prove she isn’t than to falsify evidence that she is.”

“She could be found helping a house elf?”

“What house elf? The only ones we have access to are the ones at Hogwarts, which don’t need help, or the ones in your own manor. And there’s no way she’d free one of them willfully under Merwilda’s gaze.”

“So what else would shy her away?” You lift your head from Ominis, your gaze landing on the parchment in Sebastian’s hands. “She mentioned that Eliza being rich was a plus. Would her losing her money help with our cause?”

“She’s incredibly vain, she wouldn’t sell me away for nothing.” Ominis nodded, his face locked in concentration.

“So, are we stealing all of her money?” You laugh at Sebastian’s question, then hesitate as he turns a serious gaze to you. “I’m not joking, I’m completely here for stealing all of her money.”

“We know you are, Sebastian,” Ominis sighs out, running a hand through his hair. This action pulls at the normally combed-back style, slightly messing up the hair on his head. You couldn’t help but feel enamoured by the messy style. “However, exactly how do you suppose we are to break into a Gringotts vault?”

“Well, maybe we don’t need to actually steal it?” You suggest with hesitation, both men turned their attention to you. “We can just make it look as though she did?”

“Better suggestion, but how-”

“We could say that someone has a plan on her vault,” Sebastian begins, wringing his hands together in thought. “She could go to the goblins and request her fortune be moved somewheres else. Then the next time anyone checks- Merwilda has contacts I’m sure- then her vault would be empty.”

“If it’s in her name-” Ominis begins before Sebastian interrupts him once more, standing with a flourish.

“Then it shan’t be in her name!” Sebastian grins, walking closer. “Obviously we wouldn’t be the ones to tell her. We need someone she trusts explicitly, someone who would be able to convince her to put her fortune in their name so the ‘thief’ can’t find it. Lay a trap in her vault or something, I don’t know.”

“The only person I know that she trusts completely is Natty,” You add on unhelpfully, shrugging, “And I really doubt she’d be willing to talk to Eliza.”

“If it’s to take Eliza down, she would,” Ominis mumbles, crossing his arms. “She was pretty adamant about that last time we spoke.”

“So we have our plan then!” Sebastian calls out with a grin, and you huff a breath, tilting your head.

“We do?”

“Yes! I have a spectacular plan involving the muggles and whatnot- don’t ask, you don’t want to know.” You hesitate, furrowing your brow at this, but nod along anyway. “So I have the muggle thing taken care of, Ominis will do everything in his power to annoy Eliza to no end, and you,” He points to you with a grin, “Will be the one to convince Natty- or whoever else she trusts enough if Natty says no- to follow along with our plan! This could work!”

“How is Ominis-”

“I have all the faith in you Ominis!” Sebastian calls out behind himself as he walks away, beginning a jog toward the exit. “All of it! You can do this!” With that he disappears through the door, leaving you and Ominis alone. You turn to him, tilting your head in thought.

“Don’t worry about what I’ll have to say to Eliza, Y/N,” Ominis begins, withdrawing his wand and flicking it gently to light the end with his usual red pulse. “I have some ideas, just-” He hesitates, raising a hand to rub the back of his head, “If you happen to be around anytime I’m performing for Eliza, please don’t take anything I say to heart. I’ll be saying anything necessary to chase her away, even if I don’t actually believe what I say.”

“It’s okay, Ominis, I get it.” You gently run your hand down his arm, ending at the hand holding his wand. You could see the pulsing red flicker just slightly before resuming its regular pulse. “I won’t hold anything you say to Eliza against you. She shouldn’t have tried to involve you in the first place.” Ominis slides his wand into his pocket, reaching forward to take your hand.

“Don’t you say this is your fault again, Y/N.”

“If it weren’t for me-”

“Eliza is fully to blame for this. For all of this.” Ominis pulls you closer, sliding his free hand from your shoulder up to your cheek. “I’m glad I’m finally involved, so I can help you officially. My only concern is the way I’m involved brings you pain, and I wish none of that for you.”

“You could never bring me pain, Ominis,” You try to reassure him, but he only shakes his head, tightening his hold on your hand. You raise your own free hand up to place against his on your cheek, and you lean into it slightly.

“Of course I could, don’t be ridiculous. I never want to, of course, but everyone is capable of dealing pain.”

“Ominis-”

“I’ve cast Crucio before.” Ominis’ statement has you pausing, raising your eyes up to meet his own milky gaze. You tried to decide whether you believed him, though his grim tone and expression only further proved his point. Plus, he wouldn’t joke about something like this.

“On purpose?”

“It has to be cast on purpose, Y/N.” He sighs, sounding defeated, and tries to pull his hands away. You only tighten your own in response, not letting him escape.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why?”

“Was there a reason?”

“Y/N-”

“Tell me the reason you did it, Ominis.” You take his hand off of your cheek, though refuse to let go still. You’re once again holding each other’s hands, though you were the one rubbing your thumb on his hand now. “I don’t believe you did it purely for the fun of it.” He sighs again, and you only wished you could take that world-weary expression from him. He seemed to wear it constantly now.

“My family forced me.”

“Exactly! So-”

“I still cast it, Y/N.”

“Under threat from your family.” You pull on his hands, trying to tug him into minding you. “You are not to blame.”

“I am absolutely to blame for that, Y/N!”

“What would they have done if you didn’t?” He tries to repeat your name, shaking his head, but you only repeat your sentence harsher. He eventually sighs, answering quietly.

“They would’ve performed it on me.”

“Exactly. You were saving yourself, Ominis. There was nothing you could’ve done about it, no answer is the right one in that situation.” You watch a tear slowly manifest on the corner of his eye, falling slowly down his cheek.

“I don’t deserve you, Y/N.”

“Sure you do,” You whisper, pulling him closer to you. You raise his hands to your lips, pressing a kiss to each knuckle. “If you didn’t deserve my love then I don’t think anybody would. And that would be a pretty lonely existence.” Ominis is quiet for a long moment, and you raise your eyes to see his blue eyes. They really were beautiful, in a haunting sort of way. You wondered what was going on behind those eyes, thoughts running wild in his gaze. You find out soon enough.

“You love me?” He sounded breathless in disbelief, tightening his hold on your hands. “Is that what you said?”

“Yes, Ominis,” You couldn’t help but whisper, looking up into his face. Your eyes trace his beauty marks, landing finally on his lips. “I love you.”

“I love you,” Ominis replies quickly before pulling you forward, slotting his lips with yours. He pulls one hand free, placing it on your cheek before sliding it to the back of your head, pulling you as if you could get any closer than you were. You use your now free hand to drag along his side, trailing your fingers along his torso. By the time you both pull away, you’re breathing heavily and Ominis can’t stop smiling. “Merlin save me, but I love you so.”

“Then we shall do everything in our power to stay together.” Ominis’ smile falls slightly, using his hand to pull you closer.

“Nothing will stand between us, I assure you.”

“She did what?!”

You wince at the volume of Natty’s voice, waving a hand in apology at the rest of the students as they try to shush her. Natty pays them no mind, grabbing your arm with both of her hands. “She did what?” She repeats the notion again, her eyes burning a hole in the side of your head.

“Do I really need to say it again?”

“No, of course not,” Natty spits out, grunting in annoyance. “That little-”

“I need your help.” Natty’s gaze snaps up to you, furrowing her brow.

“What is it that I can do? I have no connection to any of the Gaunts, and I wouldn’t know where to begin to stop a wedding.”

“I already have a plan,” You admit softly, scanning the library around you before leaning in closer to her. You wince, watching her face as you finally say, “But it requires you to become friendly with Eliza once more.” Natty's expression hardens further, and you're about to excuse her from participating when she speaks up.

"What all would I need to do?"

"We need to convince her that a thief is looking to steal all of her gold." The confusion that crosses Natty's face is warranted, but you soldier on. "If you tell her, then she'll believe it a lot easier. We only need her to move her gold to a different vault long enough for Merwilda- oh, uh, Ominis’ mother- to check and see that she has nothing.”

“So, we’re pretending she’s poor?” Natty pursed her lips, tilting her head. “And that matters to his mother?”

“It’s the only thing that matters to her, from what I’ve gathered,” You couldn’t keep the aggravation from your tone, but it seemed mirrored on Natty so you didn’t feel too bad.

“But if Merwilda is able to check something like that, who’s to say that she can’t just tell it was moved?”

“That’s the thing, we need it in a different name than her own.”

“Moving all of her gold to a new vault and a new name?” Natty shakes her head, leaning back in her chair. “Seems impossible. Wouldn’t that money legally be in whoever’s name then?”

“That’s why it has to be you,” Your voice is whispered, and if you hadn’t already been leaning in close to her you would’ve moved in. Still, you reached to take one of her hands, holding it in your own. “You tell her you’ve found a thief and a well-thought-out plan. That you have to move her fortune, but the only way to protect it would be to put in someone else’s name so they wouldn’t be able to just look up her new vault on the goblin’s archives.” She nods slowly, tilting her head in thought.

“We could say we need to place a trap in her current vault to catch the thief.”

“Yes! That’s perfect.”

“And the thief is a poacher. Or a well known one maybe,” She bites her lip and you nod along, squeezing her hand. At this she finally meets your eyes again, a slow smile growing. “I can’t say I’m looking forward to talking to her again- especially getting so close that she listens to this. But this is an entrance into catching her, isn’t it?” You hesitate at this, tilting your head.

“Catching her?”

“Sending her to Azkaban!” You hesitate once more and she sighs, grasping your hand more firmly. “I know that we all said we’d drop it, but you agree! Don’t you? With what she’s done, there needs to be consequences.”

“It can be a stepping stone toward that,” You finally yield to her, nodding slowly. “But I don’t know if this plan is the exact way to go about that-”

“Oh, I know, I know.” Natty sighs, her entire body relaxing before your eyes. Perhaps this was weighing heavier on her mind than anyone had initially suspected.

“Nat?” You begin hesitantly, and she just eyes you with trepidation in response. “I know this is a bit personal, but…” You bite your lip, watching Natty’s eyes. Her expression doesn’t change, but you can see recognition in her eyes. It’s like she knew what you were going to ask already, which helped it slip out, “Were you and Eliza an item?” She sighs slowly, raising a hand to rub her face.

“Not quite,” She begins, tilting her head back and forth in consideration before huffing again with a shrug, “But, in a way. Yes.”

“And so that’s why-”

“That’s why she wants me back so badly. That’s why she went after your Ominis when she decided to blame you for all of her problems.”

“I’m sorry, Nat,” You whisper, watching Natty’s face crumple into something resembling grief, tears beginning to form in her eyes. When she speaks it’s barely a voice, like she has a frog in her throat.

“It’s been so hard,” She chokes out a sob, leaning forward toward you, “I’ve had no one to talk to about it. About all this- about her. What am I supposed to do?” She looks up at you with tear-stained cheeks. “What do you do when the woman you love becomes a monster?”

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy plans that invite disaster

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, Gryffindor) part eight of the fancy series - [ToC]

Summary: The group begins to plan, until the plan becomes too dangerous to Ominis. You find out there will always be consequences for your actions.

A/N: shorter chapter, sorry, but a lot happens! Hope this doesn't seem too rushed or not detailed enough, but I'm pretty sure this is paced well enough. I hope the sequence of events isn't confusing as well, as the timeline sort of jumps around!

“Azkaban?” Garreth exclaims, a panicked look crossing his face. He begins shaking his head quickly, raising his hands in mock surrender, “Woah, woah, woah. Now hold on just a moment. We’re talking about a student, someone our age. Not some random poacher or dark wizard!”

“Technically,” Poppy inserted with a wince, “She is a dark wizard, and she’s not going to be a student for much longer.”

“And she’s not a child,” Natty inputs, placing her hands on the table in front of her. “She may still be a student like us, but she’s eighteen already. She’s an adult, and she should be tried as an adult.”

You were quiet amidst the back-and-forth, biting your lip in contemplation. Did Eliza really deserve Azkaban? Although, that’s what the whole prison was made for, and the spells were called Unforgivables for a reason. You begin to nervously tap your foot, then feel Ominis pull you closer to his side in reassurance.

“Sure, but guys- we’re talking about Eliza right now. The woman who defeated Ranrok in her fifth year, the same year she discovered her powers. Everyone loves her, she’s extremely powerful, and who knows what kind of allies she has inside the Ministry at this point! Merlin, even her own father worked closely with the Ministry, if she didn’t have someone on the inside then I’d eat my sock!” Garreth’s rant came to an end with a huff, and everyone fell silent as they thought it over.

“Then we have to make it beyond a reasonable doubt that she needs to be arrested.” Natty’s voice was serious as she spoke, looking up to lock eyes with each member of the group one after the other. “We have to get her to cast an Unforgivable in front of an Auror.”

“How in Salazar’s name are we meant to do that?” Sebastian finally spoke up in disbelief, crossing his arms impatiently.

"We know her motivations," Natty begins, looking down at the table in thought, "That she hates poachers, thinks they deserve it."

"Are we really advocating for her using another Unforgivable?" Poppy bites her lip anxiously, fidgeting with her hands. "I mean, to get her caught she has to cast it. That means that someone would be tortured just to get her arrested."

"I hate the idea too, so if anyone has a better one then let me know." Natty scans the group of friends once more, expression solemn. No one speaks up, and you wrack your brain for any other answer. Surely you all weren't trying to get someone tortured, then you'd be the same as her.

"Wait," You whisper, nervously glancing at Ominis before looking back at the group. "I have an idea…"

“Natty!”

You’re head shot up in fright at the sound of her voice, and you watch as Eliza lands a broom in the middle of the Transfiguration courtyard, running over to where you stood, arm-in-arm, with Natty. You had been passing through on your way to Herbalism class together when she practically appeared out of nowhere. She had a tendency to do that.

“No,” Natty murmurs, pulling your arm with her as she speeds her walking, pushing toward the Central Hall with renewed vigour. “I’m not ready.”

“Natty, hey wait!”

“Nat, maybe we should-”

“No,” Natty repeats with emphasis, practically dragging you along now. You tried to match her steps, then were yanked back by that same arm. You turn to notice Eliza’s hand around Natty’s other arm, a confused expression in place.

“Natty, please talk to me.”

“I have nothing to say to you.”

“But,” Eliza turns her attention to me, her face falling into an intense expression, “I thought you said-”

“They did tell me, Eliza,” Natty inputted, taking her arm back from you to instead step in front of you. “They told me how you stood by and let that happen.”

“Natty, no, please. Just let me explain!” You could see Eliza’s face over Natty’s shoulder, her eyes beginning to tear up.

“There’s nothing more to explain.” Natty’s voice sounded final, devoid of emotion. You weren’t sure you ever wanted to hear her sound like that again.

“Yes, there is. Please, just-” Natty ignores Eliza’s pleas, turning and pushing her way into Central Hall. You stood there, shell-shocked at the scene that had just happened before you. A tear slipped down Eliza’s cheek, but she no longer looked sad or desperate. She looked furious. “You.”

“Eliza, I told her as you asked-”

“It’s you. I don’t know what you said, but to take her away? To take the love of my life away?” Eliza walked forward and roughly grabbed the front of your robes, dragging you in closer. “I didn’t know someone so evil could walk the halls of Hogwarts, but by Merlin, I will make you regret ever stepping foot in this castle.”

You swallowed roughly, breath coming in pants. Fear tightened your stomach, and you tried to stutter out a response, “Eliza, listen to me, I told her what you said but I don’t control Nat. No one can control her-”

“Fine,” Eliza pushes you away, snarling at you, and continues as if you didn’t even speak. “If you want to take the one thing I love away, then I’ll do the same to you. You’ll regret ever crossing me.” Your eyes widened at the threat, reaching forward to try something, anything, to get her to change her mind. Your hand misses its mark as Eliza takes a step back and twists on her heel, disappearing in a flash.

“No,” Ominis interrupts, turning to face you completely. “You are not going to use yourself as bait.”

“It’s the only thing that makes sense, really.” You huff out a breath, seeing the disbelief across the faces of all of your friends. “I’m not going to advocate for more Unforgivables to be cast, especially if we’re going to make her cast it just to get caught. If she’s to get caught, she’s going to get caught casting it of her own will.”

“Yeah, we’ve agreed on that much,” Sebastian inserts, walking slowly around the table. “What we don’t understand is why it has to be cast on you.”

“Well, I’m not going to lead her to some random poacher to get tortured!” You huff, crossing your arms. “Look, I was told about what happened in the Scriptorium. If I let myself get hit by it-”

“No,” Ominis repeats, shaking his head quickly. “If anyone of us is going to sacrifice ourselves, it’ll be me. Anyone but you.”

“She won’t hurt you. Any of you.” You meet each of their eyes- aside from Ominis, whose hand you take instead. “She’s not mad at you. She considers you friends. But me?”

“This is a bad idea, Y/N.” Sebastian’s voice sounded final, but finally, someone else spoke up in your favour.

“I can see it,” Garreth begins, holding a hand to his chin. “Tempt her, make her think everything is their fault.”

“That won’t be difficult,” Natty inserts, straightening up and crossing her arms, “She already does think that.”

“This does not need to be discussed,” Ominis tries to interrupt, but you move to stand in front of him.

“Exactly, so we do something to push it even farther. What else does she have? What would push her over the edge?”

“I’m not sure,” Garreth begins before Natty interrupts once again.

“Me.” You nod, locking eyes with her.

“Yeah, she was pretty adamant that you, especially, are one of the people I tell. She wanted things to be better between you two.”

“So we let her know that I just hate her even more.” Natty shrugs, eyes falling to the table.

“Would she really blame Y/N just for that though?”

“Eliza doesn’t need to be blaming Y/N for anything,” Ominis begins again, coming to stand next to you. You squeeze his hand in yours, taking a deep breath.

“So I take her place.” They both look to you again to continue, and you nod along. “Eliza thinks I’m here to take her spot, essentially, right? So I do that. I walk Natty to classes and hang out with Garreth more. I don’t know- be friends with more Gryffindors?” You chuckle blandly, “It’d help if I knew anything about the woman.”

“She likes Transfiguration class, I think she’s friends with Garreth’s aunt.”

“Stop!” Ominis yells out, pushing you away from the table and stepping between you and the group. He leans in close to whisper, panic etched across his face. “This is absolutely too dangerous. We don’t know which Unforgivable she’ll use in the first place, and you don’t need to be anywhere near any of them to begin with.”

Your chest tightens in guilt, scanning the obvious worry on his face. You wait too long, choking on the words that you need to do this, you’d likely do it even if he didn’t know- Ominis eventually takes both of your hands and raises them to his face, placing a gentle kiss on each. Your shoulders fall slowly, and your next words are whispered for him.

“Ok, I won’t do it.”

You were laughing with Imelda and Garreth in the Central Hall, walking outside with brooms slung across your shoulders. Eliza was rushing past, and you back up quickly once spotting her. Garreth grabs your arm, forcing you to halt your retreat. He sends you a look and you gulp, nodding. Imelda hardly even noticed the interaction, only slowly enough to let you catch back up and then continue on. She was running commentary on the last Quidditch game, trying to decide which manoeuvre she needed to practice with more.

“See, my feint was pretty horrid- but that was against Ravenclaw. It’s Hufflepuff this time, and I don’t think feinting will be the strongest- hey, are you even listening to me?”

“Of course we are, Imelda,” Garreth reassured her with a pat on her shoulder, stretching from your other side. You tried to walk forward with a poker face, but you couldn’t find it in yourself to think up any response to Imelda’s Quidditch talk while also trying to project false confidence.

“Wow, Imelda.” The three of you turn at the same time, your eyes locking with Eliza. This was the middle of the Central Hall- she wouldn’t try anything here, right? “Mucking with the mudbloods now? How would your family feel about that?” The slur was a spear to your chest, and sure you’ve heard it before but not recently. Not since starting this year and becoming friends with your current friend group. Looking over at Imelda, you could see hurt and confusion all laced together across her face.

“Wait, Eliza? What-” She moves to stand on her other foot, seeming off-balanced. “I thought you were different than that? Granted, I’ve only ever met you on the track.” She shakes her head, looking to see you, then lifts her gaze toward Garreth. “C’mon guys, no use wasting time on this worthless person.” She then just turns and walks away, as if it were that easy.

With Garreth nudging you to follow, you turn as well and begin to walk away. There’s something there about turning your back on your enemy, but it actually worked. It really was that easy, to turn and walk away from Eliza. Maybe if you were Imelda or Garreth. Luckily, you had both of them flanking you. However, from then on you could spot Imelda sending you concentrated looks, almost as if she was trying to figure something out.

Breakfast in the Great Hall was a relaxed affair, and with such you’ve been able to eat your breakfast at the Slytherin’s table every morning since befriending Ominis. Sebastian always sat across from you, Ominis to your right, and Imelda right across from him. The four of you would always joke, and Imelda would wait for the newspaper to fall from the owls before immediately scanning the sports pages like her life depended on it. The rest of you hardly ever got mail- aside from Sebastian’s once-a-week letter from Anne. She was currently living under constant mediwix care nowadays, and Sebastian was anxious to graduate so he could more easily follow leads that could give him the cure.

A letter dropped in front of Ominis, halting the conversation between you and Sebastian. Imelda was already absorbed in her papers, and Ominis had frozen the moment the letter had touched the table. From your spot next to him, all you could really see was the fancy script and Ominis’ name.

“Ominis, you know there’s-”

“Yes, I know Sebastian.” Ominis slowly reached forward, taking told of the letter and pulling it under the table. He retrieved his wand from the table, bringing it under as well. You turned a confused expression toward Sebastian, who was quick to explain in mumbles.

“Ominis does this when he doesn’t want anyone sneaking a peek at his letter. He’ll just tap his wand to the letter and have his spell read the words into his ear.” He falls silent and you both wait, anxiously looking over to Ominis to try and discern any type of reaction. Finally, Ominis sucks in a harsh gasp, and Sebastian widens his eyes. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“Did something happen? Who sent you the letter Ominis?” Your questions were quick, and you could hear the panic in your own voice. You couldn’t regret it, though, when Ominis’ face looked so stricken.

“That was my mother,” Ominis whispered, eyes staring blankly forward. He sounded both breathless and confused, then started shaking his head. “She- but she told me before-”

“Do we need to go somewhere safe, Ominis?”

“She told me she wouldn’t be setting me up. That I was too defective for- but then who requested me?”

“Requested you?” You question him more, reaching a hand out to grab his arm. “What are you talking about?” He finally turns his face in your direction, expression falling into something grief-stricken.

“My mother has arranged for me to marry.”

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

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