Happy. He was once. // Pt. 3
Pt.1 is here
Pt.2 is here
This one is not angsty, rather fluffy-ish? Like a piece of chocolate after a dementor attack.
Hope you enjoy it, even though lately I feel like deleting everything here, lmao.
GN main character. Ominis has feelings towards MC. MC doesn’t see that, because they basically live in guilt.
TW: stupid grammar? not proofread yet
Word count: 1422
The two friends stop in a tavern. Ominis’s auror friend practises their question-dodging technique, while he enjoys a chocolate frog and his friend’s company. The worse is yet to come.
Sadly, i don't know the original artist. If you happen to know them - please, write their name in comments, I'll add it here.
The tavern met the two with its usual hustle and bustle – loud guffawing, busy chit chatters, sweet scent of butterbeer mixed with something less nice – perspiration and awful odor of some unknown kind. But it all was far better than dark corridors of Azkaban, its labyrinthine passages, wet cold walls, hungry deranged stares of prisoners... The lack of dementors was a cherry on top of the cake called “The Three Broomsticks”.
Walking in, Ominis had nearly tripped because of all the people coming in and out, but his friend, again, was there for him and saved the situation, catching him by the sleeve.
The two took open seats somewhere in the corner – a luxury in such a busy hour – away from the prying eyes of curious patrons. Ominis still didn't look well with his skin pale and head down – he felt worn out. Both physically and emotionally.
“This is what you get for meeting dementors. Nasty creatures.” – he thought.
Gaunt let out a sigh and closed his eyes – it was too bright, so bright here that it made his head ache. Was it daylight or candles? Or even both? He didn’t smell candles, so, it must be a very sunny day today. He didn’t like days like these. He enjoyed gloomy autumn afternoons – the sound of rain tapping on the roof, gentle leaves falling to his feet, worrying birds flying here and there; he wasn’t fond of summers, as you can tell for sure. Summers gave him headache. And even more than summers he hated having to suffer from headaches. The loud atmosphere of the place didn’t help either.
Happily, the auror knew exactly what to do. They left their seat in haste, leaving their friend for minutes; they soon returned with two butterbeers.
“First aid coming!” – they hugged Ominis, patting his back.
“It's going to be all right. Here, have this.”
They took a chocolate frog out of their coat’s pocket and placed it onto their friend’s palm. He smiled and shook his head in disbelief.
“A chocolate frog? Are you serious? An auror with a chocolate frog in their pocket. Remarkable.”
Ominis chuckled. Sometimes he forgot how childish they could be in all their seriousness and coldness. An auror of such experience – daring, intimidating, even, was a walking soft spot.
But everybody has soft spots; and their were, definitely, chocolate, butterbeer and their friends. Ominis had hoped he was on the list of soft spots too. On a different one, though, the one which included, well, infatuations. Though, his hopes for closer relationships, proper wooing, always dashed against the cliffs of their “aurorship”. For them he would forever remain a close friend – nothing more – which must be protected from the darkness of the world and comforted every time he needed them.
“I'll say.” They smiled back and started drinking their butter beer, taking large sips, while Ominis was busy opening the chocolate frog.
“Which card did I get?” – he asked impatiently, showing the card to the auror from the wrong side. They gently turned it, so the picture would face them.
“Ah. Ignatia Wildsmith. You have three of these. If I remember it right.”
“Ugh. Yes. It's the forth. She’s so annoying. Keep it, it's yours after all.” – he said in a sorrowful manner and placed the card on the table. The pompous looking witch soon disappeared from the frame.
“So, you're feeling better, I see.” – Ominis’s friend smiled triumphantly, finishing off their beer.
“All thanks to you.”
“It's the least I can do for you.”
“You promised to tell me something.”
The auror sighed in annoyance.
“Oh, can we just drink butterbeer without discussing something this important...”
Gaunt chuckled, recalling how many times they had discussed “something important” here before.
“No, it's how one deals with trouble – butterbeer and the Three Broomsticks. A magical combination. Magical stress reliever!”
“Hmph. Joke as much as you will, but we could have been kissed by dementors. A few not so pleasant moments ago.”
The wizard felt his heart sink. Heavy silence fell between the two suddenly. Even a joking manner of telling such grave news didn't save the situation. The patrons became quieter – who could resist the urge to overhear a talk about something this dangerous and strange?
“Wh-“ Gaunt started only to be interrupted.
“I can barely cast my patronus now. Failed a few times before, actually.” – his friend started whispering.
They smiled, but how lucky they were that Ominis wasn't able to see it. A very bitter smile that was. Desperate. Deceiving.
“Is this even possible?” – he asked in frustration. – “I thought it's forever - once you learn it, then you just use it like any other spell.”
“No, it's more complicated than that.” – the auror started babbling.
“I just... Can't do it. Can't cast it. As of late. It's a miracle I did this time. maybe it's because you were there. In danger. I just remembered how happy we were. Once ... Even for such a short time. Then our years at Hogwarts together. Anne, Amit, Natty, Poppy. And you. Despite the guilt, we were still happy. Smiling. Being children. And it felt so good, so hopeful. My phoenix rose again to save me... no, save you.” – they took Gaunt’s cold hand in their warm hands.
Here were the words Ominis had hoped to hear. And the gesture. They really fancied him. Cared for him. Or was he fooling himself again, overthinking the simplest gestures of kindness?
“To be honest with you – I felt something then. A gentle... Warmth. Of some kind. I saw and heard terrible, terrible things. They were showing me... And then this came. A light. As if I almost saw it. Not like usual shadows and silhouettes I experience. Something rather otherworldly it was.”
“That was the power of the spell, Ominis. You were the part of it. An important one.”
The wizard smiled and closed his eyes, as if wanting to feel that again.
“Don't you daydream, you still have got to talk to Anne about our business.” – they nudged him gently.
“I know. Just give me a second.”
He certainly felt better – the smile spoke for him.
“Take your time. While I drink your-“
“No waaay!” – he moaned, opening his eyes. He wasn’t going to give his butterbeer away this easily.
“Ah, you're so precious when you make that face. Precious!”
The auror cackled, noticing the blush on their friend’s face. He still reacted to this phrase with a blush. After all these years… Alas, soon they won’t be able to see this precious blush of his. Or these pretty moles, which resembled a constellation. They won’t recognise him soon. The auror’s heart ached when these thoughts began to flood their mind.
“Don't call me that, were not sixth-years anymore!”
“Say for yourself, I still have a brain that of a sixth-year.”
The two chuckled.
“Me too. The wizard nodded. It's good we still think the same.”
“Yeah... It's good.”
“Is everything all right with you? You don't sound-“
The right questions. That is where you need to leave. Make up an excuse. And go. He doesn’t need to know anything.
For him they were fine. In their “almost next to best” state.
“I'm fine, just... just a long day. And it is, really, just morning. Bet they’ve sent a search party for me at work.”
“Yes, indeed. Then you're...leaving?”
“Well, yes, I'm afraid. Still have some work to do, you know. I think I was supposed to return an hour ago or so. But damn them all. Leander too. Bet he's going to bark at me again. That coward ass.”
“Then I-...” – the wizard sighed again. – “Be careful, please. And kick Prewett’s ass for me.”
“I will. Promise. You too take care of yourself”.
“I'll talk to Anne today. Wait for my owl later.”
“I always do. Good luck, Ominis.“
And with these words they were gone. The sound of their footsteps quickly faded away, leaving Ominis all alone with his thoughts. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, but he knew – they were bound to remain unanswered. The auror was good at dodging spells. They were even better at dodging unwanted questions.
“They’re up to something. I need to find out. Sebastian was like this just before he…”
A long day it was indeed. And it was going to be even longer with everything going on. At least this day wasn’t going to last forever.