Ominis Gaunt x OC (Edith Greene)
1887–1890s Hogwarts (Victorian Era)
A cold clock-tower becomes the unlikely setting for introductions that have been building for weeks, where old loyalties and new connections circle each other like wary cats. By the time the duelling ring empties, an unexpected alliance has formed—one that will reshape lessons, friendships, and the understanding of what it means to stand between someone and the things that might hurt them.
Snow was falling outside the cullis gate in a slow drizzle as gusts of icy wind ripped through the clock-tower. The wooden beams above creaked under the persistent clack of the iron pendulum. Edith cast a warming spell on her robes.
Why couldn't crossed wands be held somewhere warmer? Did they really think the Professors didn't know about it? Did no-one think it strange not a single professor accidentally stumbled upon half the school in a draughty clock-tower?
Edith watched the clusters of early students like herself. They stood in little groups shivering and casting warming spells or eating. Like her, most were just here to support a friend. Sebastian would be duelling Leander and Ominis had asked her to keep him company. She envied the rest of her friends, who were all warm in the Library or Common Room right now.
“— here she is. Edith.” Hadrian raised a hand to greet her as her head snapped up at the sound of her name. Behind him through the open iron gate followed two boys. She remembered them, the stocky boy was a Beater and the tall lean boy who looked stretched was the Keeper.
“Hello Hadrian.” Edith smiled straightening her shoulders. She wasn't sure how to behave around him yet.
“So this is the Mouse.” The shorter of the two boys asked. His grin told her he was well aware he was being rude. The other boy elbowed him sharply. Edith took a step closer to Hadrian and he placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her next to him. It was still uncomfortable — his touch— the slimy feeling warred with her desire to be closer to him.
“Don't be rude Cass. This is Edith, the Sharp family ward I’ve been telling you about.” Hadrian’s voice was firm and formal. He seemed a little annoyed by his friend. “Edith, this is Alaric Langley.”
“Nice to finally meet you.” Alaric replied with a polite little bow. She gave a little curtsy and craned her head to smile at him. His hair was a few shades darker than Ominis’s and he had very pretty grey eyes, like clouds just before it rained.
“This is Cassius Ashworth. Just ignore him when he's rude.” Hadrian introduced with a smirk in his voice. While she couldn't say it was nice to meet him, Edith curtsied and gave him her politest smile.
“He's taken too many bludgers to the face. It messed up his manners.” Alaric teased, he gave her a wink. Now that she looked at him, his nose did look like it had met a bludger at some point.
“It was one bludger, Ric. One.” Cassius complained crossing his arms. She could see the way his robes stretched around his upper arms. Alaric was taller but it almost didn't matter. Cassius took up space, like a Graphorn. He seemed good natured enough though, but like you wouldn't soon forget the experience if he were angry. “Besides, both of you have adorable younger siblings, I want this one.”
Hadrian’s grip on her shoulder tightened.
“You have to be nice to younger siblings or they don't like you.” Edith pointed out, stepping a little closer to Hadrian. Cassius obviously wanted her to like him, but he was a bit much. If Hadrian was introducing them, the boys were important to him so they were going to be in her life now.
“I will be nice to you, Mouse. I'm always nice to Atty and Clary. Oh, Clara is Ric’s little sister. You'll meet her later.” Cassius shrugged with a grin. She had a feeling that what he thought was being nice was potentially a matter of opinion. Edith suppressed a sigh. Why Mouse? No, she was not going to ask.
“You’ll meet them over the summer, I think you’ve met enough new people for a while.” Hadrian commented looking down at her. She nodded, she couldn’t agree more. “Where is Ominis? I wanted to introduce him too.”
“Don’t you dare let Garreth hear you call me Mouse, being called cousin is bad enough.” She grumbled at Cassius before turning to answer Hadrian. “We had separate classes. He’ll be here soon.”
“Fine. Edith in company.” Cassius replied with a grin before frowning. “Why are we meeting a Gaunt?” His face had clouded over and she really didn’t like the dark tone in his voice. What was wrong with Ominis?
“He’s Edith’s closest friend, remember. We always see them around together.” Alaric reminded him with another elbow. He looked towards the other entrance and Edith followed his gaze as another group of students entered the tower.
“The Gaunts are the worst type of Wizards.” Cassius crossed his arms again.
“Ominis is really nice, he’s not like that at all.” Edith hissed as she reached out to clutch at Hadrian’s robes and press against him. She wouldn’t like anyone who was mean to Ominis. They’d never even met, how could he say that?
“Father and Uncle both approve of him and he was the only one allowed to visit her while she was in St Mungo’s.” Hadrian stated, his tone was very Sharp. “He’s kind to her and they’re friends so get over it.”
Cassius looked unconvinced but didn’t argue further.
“He’s arrived with the Sallow twins. Keep your opinions to yourself if you want Edith to continue speaking to you.” Alaric smirked, twitching his head in the direction of the side entrance. Edith gave Cassius a glare before turning to watch, he hadn’t sensed her yet.
Ominis walked down the steps through the metal spiked gate with Sebastian’s arm slung over his shoulder. He looked equal parts annoyed and amused, one corner of his mouth looked like it was trying not to smile. Sebastian had a smear of dirt across one cheek and his hair was ruffled more than usual. Anne walked on Ominis's left side. She was giggling at something and kept trying to grab his hand.
She tried twice as Ominis moved to first adjust his robes and then his bag before giving up and just hooking his hand around his bag strap like the strap was the problem. It was odd watching him subtly shake someone off, he never did that for her.
“He hasn't noticed you yet. You should call him over.” Alaric suggested, Edith glanced at him to see both boys watching Ominis with different expressions. Cassius had a dark look of distrust that looked like it itched to be voiced and Alaric just looked mildly amused.
“No, his wand will notice me soon. It always does.” In another couple of feet most likely. She rested her head against Hadrian's side to wait, he hadn't pushed her away and she was determined to get used to him.
“How does it work? His wand?” Cassius asked almost reluctantly.
“No-one is sure. Even Ollivander doesn't know but some Hufflepuff theories are it works like a bat. One of our seventh-years brought in a Muggle science book by Lazzaro Spallanzani and obsessed over it for months before he graduated last year.” Edith explained, she hadn't understood the book at all and had only remembered it because the author’s name was strange.
“I don't understand. How can a wand behave like a non-magical creature?” Alaric asked sounding confused as Hadrian chucked quietly. She would have missed it if she hadn't been leaning on him. Cassius just stared at him like he'd lost his mind before turning back to Edith.
“Are you kidding, a Muggle book? Can you get it for me?” And another student lost down the rabbit-hole that was how does Ominis's wand work… Well if it got Cassius to like Ominis, she'd push him down it herself.
“He left the book when he graduated in case anyone else wanted to read it. It's in our Common Room. I'll bring it to breakfast tomorrow.” Edith shrugged, turning back to watch.
Ominis had freed himself from Sebastian's arm now and they were standing just past the entrance, stopped by Brattleby who was obviously talking to Sebastian about his match.
There was a moment where Edith could see the second his wand sensed her. He looked relieved for a moment, then the smile that he had been suppressing won its battle, finally he noticed who she was with and his brows drew together in concern.
He made his weaving way over to them, the tip of his wand blinking out a steady ripple of red magic.
“Hadrian has some friends he wants to introduce to us.” Edith began before he could ask her if she was alright. She released her grip on Hadrian and moved to hook her arm through Ominis's elbow. She wanted to make it clear to Cassius where she stood, she was still annoyed with him.
“This is Alaric Langley and Cassius Ashworth.” Hadrian introduced again. He indicated to each boy who bowed, though Cassius’s was stiff. “This is Ominis Gaunt. Now, I want you both to go to them if you have any issues and I’m not around.” He stressed the word both but if that was pointed at them or his friends, Edith wasn’t sure. Knowing Hadrian it was probably to tell Cassius he had to help Ominis, and Ominis that people would help him if he needed it.
“Nice to meet you.” Ominis replied with a incline of his head in return. “Are you duelling today?” he asked politely. He sounded stiff and off balance.
“Cass is. He wants to settle a dispute with a Ravenclaw over a Quidditch argument.” Hadrian began as Alaric snorted. Edith looked over at Cassius. He was looking at her with his head tilted to the side, not paying attention.
“Mouse, why is part of your hair pink?” He asked like he needed this puzzle solved. Oh, was it that visible now. “I assume you don't care if Gaunt hears me call you that, just everyone else.”
She huffed and shook her head. While she didn't like the nickname, he was right… she didn't care if Ominis heard it.
“Garreth Weasley.” Edith huffed out pulling her plait over her shoulder to look at it. A thick strip shimmered a dark pink — faded but still offensively visible — when it caught the light. It didn’t quite reach the ends, with the ugly colour stopping half way through her braid in a jagged splash. It made sense they could all see it now, Hadrian’s shadow was no longer blocking the left side of her face.
“Is that why Weasley's hair is a lighter shade of orange with purple?” Alaric asked, as Cassius nodded like the answer did not surprise him.
Edith giggled and pressed her cheek into Ominis's shoulder. She couldn't look at Garreth without laughing anymore, she wished she could get a portrait made of him looking like that. It wouldn't work as a photograph, it deserved to be immortalised in colour.
“We'll take that as a yes then.” Hadrian commented but she could hear his smirk.
“Why do you call her Mouse?” Ominis asked, he sounded a little more hesitant than usual. It annoyed her that Cassius’s dislike was so obvious to her friend. Edith sighed and squeezed his arm.
“What? Have you seen her?” Cassius exclaimed rather more rudely than she hoped he would.
“Cass.” Alaric hissed, elbowing him.
“Last I checked I was still blind.” Ominis huffed with less venom than people who forgot he was blind usually got. She could feel his muscles spasm, under the weight of him holding back. He wanted to snap, he just also wanted Hadrian’s approval.
“Cassius.” Hadrian warned taking one step around to stand beside her. She could feel him reach around her to place his hand on Ominis’s back. She found herself once more pressed against him as he moved them both closer to his side.
“My mistake.” Cassius backed off changing tactics. “I mean you have to know she’s tiny. I know her eyes are purple not pink but she looked like a Mouse hanging off Uncle Aesop’s sleeve when she came back.”
Edith gaped at Cassius as Ominis snickered once before suppressing it and she took her head off his shoulder to glare at him. She could see the corners of his mouth twitch. She turned back to glare at Cassius, who looked annoyingly smug as Alaric was covering his mouth with his hand and looking over at the duelling ring like it was suddenly very interesting. What kind of ridiculous boy logic was that? She glanced at Hadrian for help and saw a muscle in his jaw tick, damn them all and their strange boy logic.
“You are absolutely, never to give that explanation to anyone ever again. I will not be called Mouse by the whole school.” Edith struggled over the embarrassment.
“I swear under threat of the Cruciatus curse, I will never tell anyone why I call you Mouse. Now please stop glaring at me.” Cassius swore trying to keep a straight face, he sounded completely unrepentant. “I will also hex anyone else who calls you it. That’s my nickname and only I can call you that.”
Great, more boy logic. Edith just nodded instead of trying to argue, she knew a lost cause when she saw one. Hadrian made a kind of choking sound in the back of his throat as Alaric coughed violently, even Ominis’s shoulders shook though he made not a sound. Traitor.
“Oh, this is where you got to? We’ve been looking for you.” Anne remarked suddenly from behind her. Edith peered around Ominis to watch as she came up on his other side.
“Yes, Hadrian was introducing us to his friends.” She smiled at Anne who nodded politely.
“Why would he do that? He’s a Slytherin Prefect?” Sebastian asked wandering up to stand by Anne. He sounded genuinely confused and also strangely defensive.
That was such a loaded question and she wasn’t sure how Hadrian was going to answer it. Even though she’d met the whole family over the weekend there had been no announcement on what story was going to be told yet. She’d only heard about the logistics, so far. Easter and summer with the family before going to Hogwarts on the train like everyone else.
“She’s the Sharp family ward. You should see the announcement in the Prophet next week.” Hadrian stated with a lift of his chin. “I got the owl this morning.” He explained looking down at her, his voice softening.
She wondered how he had originally been going to tell her before the plan got derailed. Though it probably didn't matter much, she had found out the day it was settled. That was enough.
“Why would the Sharp’s take her in? You're pure-blood.” She was positive that wasn't meant how it sounded but it had an instant effect. Ominis stiffened and it felt like he was going to say something before Hadrian both of them in front of him, his hands now firmly on their shoulders as he stood rock stiff at their backs. Cassius looked like he suddenly grew three feet in all directions. Even Alaric’s face blackened in a deep scowl.
“That is not your concern, Sallow.” Hadrian's voice was like ice.
“That sounded terrible Sebastian. You had better apologise.” Anne muttered taking a step backwards and pulling at Sebastian’s elbow. It seemed to occur to Sebastian that everyone was upset with him. There was a flash of shame before he covered it.
“I didn’t mean it like that.” He began, defaulting to his usual go to line.
“We know, it’s the only reason Cass is not challenging you to a duel right now.” Alaric cut in before Sebastian could defend himself more, or put his foot in his mouth further. “But, you cannot say things like that. It makes you look like a blood purist and nobody here cares about blood status.” He continued drawing his line while pointing out exactly where Sebastian went wrong.
Sebastian stared at Alaric for a long moment before his shoulders dropped. “I really didn’t mean it to sound like that. I just don’t understand why the Sharp’s would take on an orphaned Hufflepuff.” That wasn’t much better, if she was honest.
“Why the Sharp’s do things is none of your business. She’s ours now and that’s all you need to know.” Cassius loomed as he said it. She would have preferred if he had added Ominis into that statement but Ominis wasn’t a ward so she understood why he hadn’t been.
Alaric sighed. “You need to work on how you ask questions you have no business asking. It’ll go better for you. The phrasing you probably wanted was ‘why did the Sharps choose to take a ward?’. Though the answer was still none of your concern.”
Sebastian glanced at Ominis who had a closed off annoyed expression. His lips were a thin line trying to keep whatever he wanted to say trapped.
“Do you know?” He asked trying to side step and get the answers he wanted. Edith had to clamp down on the urge to roll her eyes.
“No, because it's none of my concern.” Ominis lied, his voice bland. Why Sebastian thought Ominis would tell him, she would never know. Especially in front of Hadrian after he had shut it down.
“Seb, stop. They’ve told you, its none of our business.” Anne whined pulling again at Sebastian’s sleeve. She would kick him next. Edith decided to take pity on her.
“How was Herbology today? You learnt the ground digging spell didn’t you?” Edith asked Anne to change the subject. Anne gave her a look of relief before answering.
“It was really messy. One of the boys dug right through his pot and sprayed dirt everywhere.” Anne replied in a falsely cheery voice.
“Garreth blew up his pot when we learnt it the other day. Though I think that was on purpose.” Edith returned matching her tone as Ominis snorted. Good, his good mood might start to come back now.
“I bet Professor Garlick was pleased.” Ominis joined in, though he’d already heard the story.
“Yes, he got a long lecture about startling the baby mandrakes.” Edith explained as Anne grimaced. The atmosphere felt better now. She could see Cassius and Alaric had relaxed.
“How come you aren’t covered in dirt like your friends Ominis?” Hadrian asked politely. He took a long-legged step away from them and repositioned himself so that he was facing towards everyone. He still didn’t look particularly pleased, but his voice was warm towards Ominis.
“Edith taught the spell to me after she learnt it on Tuesday. Since I sit next to that giant Tentacula Professor Garlick keeps in the greenhouse, Edith thought it would be easier to learn it from her.” Ominis explained with an easy shrug. It had been nice to be able to teach him something for a change, though he had picked it up disgustingly quick.
“She put you next to that abomination?” Alaric asked looking disgusted. He had a point, though the wording was a bit rude, it wasn’t the plant’s fault. Edith sighed, that thought was a bit too much like Lenora and Garlick.
“Every year so far.” Ominis sighed in annoyance. “Thankfully it seems more interested in biting the other students than me. As long as I keep an ear out for it, it hasn’t been the worst problem.”
Edith squeezed his arm, he was downplaying it, she knew he was. But he kept telling her it was fine and he could handle it. He would be furious and offended if she meddled where he told her not to. She glanced at Alaric, his lips were pressed together as he stared at Ominis.
“He's fine. It only poisoned him once today.” Sebastian blundered, his voice casual, though she could have hugged him for this case of foot in mouth. “Last week one of the seed pods nearly cracked his cheekbone.”
“Sebastian, keep your mouth shut. Don't you have a duel to attend.” Ominis growled stiffening. She hadn't known about that. He looked quite cross when she glanced at him and Sebastian turned sheepish.
“Ominis is really alright. Everyone gets injured in Herbology sometimes.” Anne defended quickly, glancing nervously at the silently fuming boys. Even Cassius looked displeased.
Edith caught their eye and tried to will them to understand her ‘fix it’ look. Alaric nodded to her and she had to prevent herself from sagging in relief.
“Oh yeah, Brattleby is waving me over. I better go. Watch me win.” Sebastian started like he had somehow forgotten why everyone was freezing in a clock tower. He probably also wanted to leave before he got yelled at.
“Off you go to your match Sallow, you're duelling that other red head aren’t you?” Hadrian commented his voice neutral.
“Prewitt, yes he is. They have a rivalry going.” Anne replied cheerfully, a little too cheerfully.
“Yes he seems to spend an almost equal amount of time in detention that Sallow does. Enjoy your match.” Hadrian almost drawled in a similar way to Professor Sharp when he disapproved.
“Come on. Let's go meet Brattleby.” Anne grabbed Sebastian’s arm and ushered him towards the duelling ring.
Alaric walked over to Ominis and slung his arm around his shoulders. Edith let him have Ominis and stepped back to look up at Hadrian. He looked both pleased and annoyed.
“Ominis. Come over here and tell me what games you like to play. Do you enjoy chess?” Alaric asked drawing Ominis over to a wall facing the court to sit. At least one of them liked him straight away.
“Do you play exploding snap, Mouse? Cassius asked as he meandered over to where the boys had claimed.
“For a little while. Then it hits wrong and I get the shakes. I'm trying to get over it because Ominis loves that game.” Edith explained, Hadrian had probably told them about her episodes already.
“There's no need to push yourself. We will play it with him.” Hadrian remarked putting his hand back on her shoulder and ushering her forwards. That was good, otherwise he only had Arthur to really play it with.
“How is your duelling going. Don't you start this week?” Cassius asked changing topics as he sat down on the cold floor. She should have brought a picnic blanket.
“We start next week. Tomorrow is when the class learns protego.” Edith lowered herself onto the icy floor and smoothed out her skirt. “Ominis has been practising duelling with me. Though it’s not very fun for him.”
“It’s plenty fun, as long as Weasley doesn’t make a nuisance of himself.” Ominis cut in. He was still holding a grudge against Garreth for that, she wished he would forgive him. He’d promised not to do it again.
“I’ll take over those practices, Ominis.” Edith snapped her head towards Hadrian who held up a hand to forestall Ominis’s objection. “You can alternate between helping Edith and practising with Alaric. Father is planning on having me tutor her after Easter anyway, I’ll adjust your lessons to your skill sets. That way there will also be no more mishaps with the Weasley.” Hadrian hadn’t asked but she knew he would, at some point, and Garreth was going to be in more trouble. If he hadn't already heard about it from Professor Sharp, that was.
“Will it just be duelling lessons?” Edith asked, this was snowballing quickly. She liked her time with Ominis teaching her, but she supposed if he would still be there she could deal with it. Ominis was a good teacher though and he seemed to like doing it, though he probably shouldn’t feel like he had to.
“For now.” Hadrian confirmed. “Can you cast a protego?” His voice implied that if she couldn’t, she would be getting a quick lesson this afternoon.
“She can, and it’s largely gap free now. She’s worked hard to close them.” Ominis piped up, he had a proud little smile on his face. Edith ducked her head down, feeling self conscious.
“Don’t be embarrassed Mouse. You should own your accomplishments. Though it does mean you might be bored in class tomorrow.” She could hear the grin in Cassius’s voice as he petted her head. She stiffened under his touch, it was too soon and she wasn’t sure about him. He liked her but he didn’t like her friend.
“Cass, you know she’s not good with people touching her. We agreed to keep our hands to ourselves.” Alaric commented with a glare. Cassius took his hand away with a muttered ‘sorry’.
“That’s good. You can both meet us after classes down in the Slytherin dungeon tomorrow. I'll assess what Edith can do while Ominis spars with Alaric.” Edith suppressed a groan. That meant they would all see where her spells went wrong. How embarrassing.
The Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom was filled with students waiting on the arrival of Professor Hecat, everyone had quietly taken their seats. Huddling together or casting charms against the winter. Ominis had taken his usual spot next to Edith and quickly cast a warming spell on them both, before she could draw her own wand. He adjusted the warm fuzzy scarf that had been trying to strangle the cold out of his neck and put his books on the worn desk.
The lead lined windows creaked against the icy wind, it under cut the near persistent clicking of the sneak-o-scopes. There was no draft in the classroom, though it was cold as the winter ice permeated through the stone and wood, leaving the students shivering. Somehow the lack of draft did not stop the iron strings holding the enormous bones of Hecat’s prized dragon over-head from whispering their displeasure. Bone cracked against the cold.
“Good Morning Class.” Professor Hecat’s voice boomed from the front of the room as the solid wooden door creaked open on frozen hinges. “As you were informed last week, today we will begin learning Protego for duelling purposes.”
‘Yes.’ Sebastian muttered to Anne from the row ahead of him. Ominis rolled his eyes, Sebastian was going to be in for a shock if he thought duelling in class was going to be exciting. He should just enjoy crossed wands for that.
“Now, duelling will not begin in this class until every student has a grounded understanding of the spell and its importance in protection.” Professor Hecat continued, her slow steps creaking on the floor. “A show of hands if you please. Who can cast Protego?”
Ominis raised his hand as asked and knew Edith did too. Sebastian would have, which meant Anne too. He made a point of not using his wand to scan the room to sense who had their hands in the air.
“Poppy has her hand in the air, same with Lenora but Arthur and Adelaide don’t.” Edith told him in a whisper. That made sense, Lenora had older brothers who probably taught her. Arthur’s mother was a muggle and had strange rules against magic in her home. Adelaide surprised him though, her uncle was a curse-breaker, why would he not have taught her?
“Adelaide surprises me.” He admitted in a whisper back.
“Her uncle is very busy, she said he hasn’t had the time.” Edith whispered back as quietly as she could. That made sense, but it was still slightly negligent as far as he was concerned. But he supposed curse-breakers didn’t usually make the same kind of enemies that Aurors did.
“More students than I expected. Very good.” Hecat continued as her foot steps took her down the centre of the room at a painfully slow pace. “Now what is Protego and what is it used for.”
“The Protego is a personal shield that is conjured to create a protective barrier around the caster. It can block most spells, jinxes and hexes.” Lenora began from behind him. “It can also block physical forces, such as objects.”
Except for unforgiveables…
“Very good Miss Everleigh, ten points to Hufflepuff.” Professor Hecat sounded only mildly approving. “I would like to add, it does not block unforgiveables, which is one of the many reasons they are unforgiveable.”
“So what do you do against unforgivables?” Edith whisper asked him. Ominis thought about it for a moment, that hadn’t been covered by his family. Maybe it would if he ever went back but since he had no plans of doing that it was a moot point.
“Other than throwing yourself out of the way, I have no idea.” Ominis admitted quietly.
“We can ask Hadrian later.” She muttered pulling her textbook forwards, the metal corner caps scraped against the wood and he heard the flicking of thick pages.
“Don’t worry about your textbook Miss Greene. We are about to start practice.” Professor Hecat stated, obviously seeing Edith open her book. “Now everyone pack up your things and gather in the middle between the blue lines.”
There was a flurry of movement as students rushed to pack up their belongings and gather in the middle of the floor. Edith ushered him to stand beside her and he felt her reach past him to push Poppy backwards. There was a horrendous scraping of wood on wood as Ominis felt the desks being pushed against the wall. There was the expected scramble of slow students rushing out of the way, Hecat was never patient enough to wait until everyone was out of the way.
“Now, students who have never learnt protego will be lined on the windows side of the room. Students who can cast, will be paired on the opposite side. Off you go.” Hecat explained with what he was sure was a wave of her hand. Edith put her arm through his and pulled him to the other side.
“Would you prefer to pair with Sebastian?” Edith asked, though he knew she was only being polite. She would partner with Anne if he wanted it but it would be uncomfortable for both girls. It saddened him that they were both happy to be friendly acquaintances rather than friends. They had so little in common besides his friendship that other than classes or polite topics, their conversations tended to wane into uncomfortable silence.
“No, it would just encourage him to show off.” He shook his head. Pairs meant Hecat was going to have them practice shielding against a minor jinx, if he paired with Sebastian the lesson would get side tracked. Sebastian would want to do more than required and it would force Hecat away from the students who needed to learn.
“Most likely. He’s going to find this very boring after his win the other day.” Edith agreed, but he could hear the relief in her voice.
“True. Though Prewitt was better than I thought he’d be.” Ominis nodded, that had surprised him. Sebastian had barely won, though he’d had to rely on the commentary of the others since Alaric had sat them a bit far away for his wand to sense the duel properly.
“Now, those who know the spell will take turns blocking a minor stinging jinx.” Professor Hecat cut in, he could feel her moving between the groups. “That is a minor stinging jinx” She clarified louder and a few people groaned. “The rest of you gather around me with your wands out.”
“Let’s put out bags against the desks.” Edith suggested already putting her bag down and pulling her wand from one of the many pockets.
“Alright. Follow my wand movements, no Anders that swish is wrong do it again.” Hecat continued from somewhere behind him.
“I’ll go first, you shield.” Edith called taking her place in a line somehow naturally forming, their backs to the window and the students currently learning the spell. “I’m glad I got to practice this with you and Hadrian beforehand.”
She waited until Ominis had put his bag down and turned to stand in front of her. She had put him where he could sense everything in the room. A respectable distance away stood Anne, standing in a similar position. Sebastian fired a stinging jinx that was probably stronger than minor at her, she blocked it with a swish of her wand and a steady call of her magic. Her protego was brittle, like glass, but the jinx still absorbed into it.
He felt Edith’s magic gather in her wand before it flew towards him, there was absolutely no intent to harm in the spell. He’d probably get a stronger static shock from his scarf later, even if he didn’t block it. “Protego.” His shield locked around him with the sort of force Hecat would expect in her lesson but Alaric or Hadrian would scold him for. Now it was his turn.
“Protego.” Poppy countered beside him. He gave her a quick glance. Her shield held but it was thin and patchy in places. He sighed, another one to fix.
“Now, I want you to think about protecting yourself as you cast it. You will practice until the end of class. Twenty points to the first student to give me a functional shield that can take a jinx.” Hecat called in the background. He felt students on that side move from around her into a third evenly spaced line. The room was now filled with more muffles of protego, it was quite distracting.
Ominis changed his stance and felt Edith tug on her magic. “Protego.” She said as he flicked his wand towards her, there was no intent to harm in his spell either but it bounced off the hardened shell of her magic. Still a little over-controlled but he agreed with Hadrian’s assessment of it being better that way. He couldn’t feel the gaps he had first felt anymore. They had been hammered smooth by both her practice at closing them and Hadrian’s duelling lessons. There was just the tiniest shadow over her left shoulder now, where the magic was not even a hair thinner.
“Protego.” Sebastian’s voice was overly loud but he sounded bored. It was boring. His shield was suffering the same problem as nearly everyone else. Gaps. Nearly in the same place every time, back of the neck or between the shoulder blades and over the non-dominant shoulder. Well except Anne, she had no gaps but hers felt like one good spell would pull it apart like wind through dry leaves. He would need to help his friends fix their shields. Hopefully Sebastian would be receptive.
He walked over to Sebastian and put a hand on his shoulder. He usually tried to avoid physical contact but it seemed to help show someone you cared. “You should come with us to the dungeon after class. Everyone has gaps in their Protego, I’m going to help them close them.” Ominis stated in a low voice that not even Edith would hear. There was technically no such practice class, but there was about to be.
“It’s fine Ominis.” Sebastian laughed, brushing him off. Ominis schooled his face to prevent the slight twinge of hurt from showing. “I can duel just fine.”
“It could cost you a victory.” Ominis reminded him trying another tract. “A well placed spell can shatter an unstable protego. Skilled wizards die all the time from it.”
“We’re in second-year, Ominis, don’t worry so much.” Anne said coming forwards, Sebastian’s laugh must have called her over. Ominis sighed, why couldn’t they just listen. It got harder to fix the longer you left it. “Besides you should probably worry about Edith.”
“Edith has already spent the time to close her weak points.” There was a thread of pride in his voice. Edith had listened to him, she hadn’t complained or dismissed him. She easily had the most solid Protego in the class now, granted some of that was her nerves but that didn’t counter the work she had put in.
“That was her choice. What does she need to spend all that work for? She’s not even in crossed-wands.” Sebastian countered dismissively. That was never going to be something Edith spent her time on. Cassius had suggested it and she had told him she would rather read than waste time making a fool of herself in public for an outfit she could buy herself and a title.
“Because Ominis asked and it worried him.” Edith replied, putting a calming hand on his shoulder. Her voice was light and unfailingly polite, the way it got when she was beginning to become annoyed.
“Let me know then if you change your mind.” He cut in before anyone else could say anything. They would lose points for disrupting class at this rate.
“Since you four have time to argue, show me your cast.” Professor Hecat demanded coming over. Too late.
“Protego.” They said in unison after taking a healthy step away from each other.
“Good. Now get back to practice.” Hecat grumbled sounding disappointed she couldn’t dock points. “Unless you want to stay back after class to practice for another hour, you will stay in your lines. Other’s require my attention today.”
“After class, grab the girls and Arthur. We’re going to fix their shielding, I will not have them at the mercy of other wizards.” Ominis whispered to Edith, feeling annoyed. She squeezed his hand and moved back into her line. At least they would agree even if they didn’t see the necessity of it yet.
