Chapter Text
A buttery late summer sun had begun to lower across the Scottish landscape casting the dense woodland aglow and silhouetting the imposing castle, which in a few hours would be alive again with anxious new faces and eager familiar ones. For hundreds of years the castle had been home to thousands of young witches and wizards, one of which was sitting on the hillside lost to the soft easterly wind stirring through her hair. The giant squid, resident of the Black Lake at Hogwarts’ base, reared out of the water, it's thick black hide shimmering in the light, and the splash as its tentacles hit the water, was heard even from such a distance by that waiting student.
A white hippogriff clucked noisily, breaking the girl’s attention from the horizon but she rolled her eyes and told the creature to leave her be and go hunt dinner. The hippogriff cocked her head, clicked her beak again and then took off, leaving the young woman entirely alone except for the lacewing flies and nearby rustling of jobberknolls.
Evelyn Lacey had started at Hogwarts five years later than most, her magical abilities completely hidden and being muggle there had been no reason to suspect being anything other than human. Each morning the housemaid would lay out porridge for Evelyn and a full English for her father while her mother took breakfast in bed. Mr Lacey would read the paper while Evelyn would be given a domestic magazine; Mr Lacey was not to be disturbed over the breakfast table. Once finished he would thank the two servants, kiss Evelyn on the head and then leave for work which would give Evelyn about half an hour before the governess would arrive. It was mundane but consistent until one early August morning a knock sounded before Mr Lacey had set off for work. An older man had arrived with wrinkles etched deep through the contours of his face and his nose was larger than any Evelyn could remember seeing but she had been trained in polite etiquette by both her mother and governess so aside from the slight widening of her eyes at the stranger with odd long clothes, her polite smile remained affixed.
Evelyn recalled that morning to her, the way Professor Fig had somehow convinced her parents of magic and they did not think him insane. She had felt insane though, disbelieving until Fig handed her a second hand wand and she felt the magic flood her like a dam broken from somewhere deep inside, filling a space she had not even realised had been empty. Thus began a month of intense training and a testing of Evelyn’s realities before the school term was to begin. During her final week in London, Professor Fig had escorted Evelyn and her father to Diagon Alley where, perhaps for the first time, that she had ever seen, her father’s face had been alight with excitement and wonder. At Gringott’s Wizarding Bank they discovered the conversion rate for muggle money to wizarding meant the monthly allowance Mr Lacey could set aside for his daughter would be a reasonably comfortable sum. Evelyn learned of her father’s love for reading, something she had not realised she had inherited from him, when they stepped into Florish and Blott’s and neither wanted to leave. Professor Fig and Mr Lacey waited outside the dressmakers when Evelyn was fitted for her school robes but the day was cut short when Professor Fig was urgently called to the Ministry for Magic, something which intrigued her father more than the books. The rest of her needs could be met in Hogsmeade, Professor Fig had assured her.
Which was where Evelyn sat now, or at least, not far from it. With the hippogriff Highwing, flying alongside her, Evelyn had swept over the gilded treetops of the highlands and the bell on the front of her broom had jingled faintly when she dismounted on top of a mound where she could watch the magical creatures of the valley. It had been a busy day in the Three Broomsticks, most of the village was preparing for the onslaught of students about to descend on them and had taken to stopping into the pub for lunch. Evelyn had needed the extra money though and after working there for two summers now, she and Sirona, the owner, could almost read minds; not literally but they understood each other well enough to anticipate the others’ needs when working together.
After the battle under Hogwarts in her first year, when it was time to go home to muggle London, Evelyn hadn’t been ready to leave. Everything she had known had been turned upside down but in the best possible way and she had an independence that a young woman in her old world could never have. It had taken some convincing, but eventually her parents had agreed, especially after Professor Weasley had helped them travel to Hogsmeade and meet Sirona, who had not hesitated to accept the young student as her understudy as such, although Mr and Mrs Lacey had not held back on their reservations of their daughter working in a pub. With a few smart investments she had made with Professor Fig’s help that first trip to Gringott’s, Evelyn had also managed to make enough money to afford one of the small homes in Hogsmeade, only a short walk between North Hogsmeade square and the bar.
Highwing’s whistle called across the Black Lake in a final goodbye before she disappeared. Evelyn raised a hand, knowing that somehow, the creature would know it was her offering a farewell. The girl’s gaze dropped when the hippogriff faded to a speck only for her eyes to fall on the nearby train tracks to a distant spot to the south. It would be a few hours yet until the train came in but she looked eagerly, as though, if she just wished hard enough, the train might appear sooner. No smoke billowed up from the treetops and no piercing whistle echoed through the afternoon.
In a habit she had picked up only two days ago, Evelyn removed the letter from her pocket. It had been opened and refolded maybe hundreds of times in those long two days, and the words were so etched into her brain that she could almost recall dreaming them the night before. Even still, her slim fingers felt along the words written in black ink and in a font that was more familiar to her now than most of her friends but they lingered on the final line.
I have missed you more than my words can ever express. When I see you in the great hall, it will take all my restraint not to hold you. Forever yours.
With a sigh, Evelyn returned the letter to her pocket, gathered her broom and flew back to Hogsmeade. Her packing was still waiting for her, even if was only moving a short walk down the road. Only Evelyn didn’t go straight home, there was the post office to visit where her order of school books that Tomes and Scrolls did not have in stock, had arrived, and then J Pippins for the rarer potions ingredients she had run out of while adventuring over the summer, not to mention Gladrags who she had almost forgotten about until looking for her school robes only to remember she had left them in last week for altering. By the time she was home again, robes in hand, Deek was already waiting in her quaint kitchen, seemingly having lit most of the candles for her and in typical house elf fashion, his brow was creased with worry.
“Oh Miss, thank goodness,” Deek exclaimed when Evelyn burst through the door, “Deek was starting to worry, Miss.
Evelyn knelt and embraced the old elf, over the last two school years, he had become a dear companion and he always had time for any request she had.
“You worry too much my friend.”
“Deek only wants Miss to be safe.”
Evelyn smiled at his words, “I am sorry to have worried you. Thank you as always for your concern Deek.”
Deek bowed his head graciously but she didn’t miss his peak at the enchanted clock over her mantle; he always worried. “Miss the train ought to be…” As if on queue the squeal of a steam train whipped through Hogsmeade.
Evelyn cursed under her breath and ran upstairs with Deek hot on her heels. She pointed to the large trunk she had left in the middle of the room and with a quick sweep of her wand, the final clothes, books and potions were dumped unceremoniously into it. With another flourish, the outfit she had been wearing swapped places with the robes draped over her arm. The worn clothes were then also dumped onto the top of the contents before the lid slammed shut.
“This is ready to be taken to the school now Deek but would you mind…”
“Deek will ensure everything is cleaned, pressed and returned to your wardrobe in the dormitory by morning,” the house elf confirmed before the student had finished asking.
Evelyn really didn’t know what she would do without Deek looking out for her and she wanted to tell him there was no rush on anything but the second whistle rang through, alerting her that the train was pulling into the station as they stood around.
“Deek will extinguish the lamps and lock the doors Miss,” the house elf interrupted her thoughts. Wasting no more time, Evelyn ran back down the stairs, grabbed her broom from the rack by the door and had mounted it before the front door had even closed behind her.
Despite the black sky, the moon cast a glow over the village and nearby station, mixing through the billowing steam of the train to cast an almost sinister effect. Evelyn leant forward on the broom, hugging her body close to the handle to push it faster. Her school cloak whipped behind her and if her mother saw how her skirt was hitched up to allow for her to straddle the seat, Evelyn wouldn't be allowed back out of the house. She pushed the thoughts aside and dismounted with a jump onto the platform. Swiping back the strands of hair that had been torn out of her bun, she searched the slowly emerging students for one in particular.
The overwhelming throng of students and voices filled the station seemingly all at once, returning and familiar faces grinned at Evelyn, pinched her arm affectionately and promised to catch up later and while she returned the sentiment, her eyes continuously scanned the crowd. As the steam finally subsided, the red tipped hue of a particular wand glowed from the other end of the platform. Her feet were pounding against the stone and she carefully slipped past the other students, apologising where she pushed through crowds as she raced. Without a word from Evelyn and without the ability to see her coming, the young man had the intuition to turn and open his arms, just as she threw herself into his embrace. Catcalls and sniggers surrounded them but Evelyn didn’t care, especially not when his arms tightened around her waist and his face nuzzled into her neck and inhaled deeply.
“You were gone far too long,” she whispered next to his ear.
The young man pulled back just enough to capture her lips briefly, sweetly but not too long to draw more attention. “I’m sorry.”
Evelyn stepped back just enough to see the man’s features under the glow of the streetlamp. His pale blue eyes were forever unseeing but it was the dark crescent smudges under them and the new red scars at his temple and smooth jaw that worried her. Her fingers traced the largest scab at his right brow, and the man hissed, she dropped her hand but he captured it with his own.
“How bad was it this time Ominis?” Evelyn asked.
Ominis’ mouth pulled into a thin line that was more of a grimace than the comforting smile Evelyn was sure he was trying to offer. “Ah, well, let’s just say Mr and Mrs Gaunt have not changed.” Evelyn scowled, her mouth parting to insist he not return but Ominis squeezed her hand and she knew that meant the topic was to be dropped, instead he leaned closer to her ear and whispered so the other students could not hear, “Now please whisk me away on that broom of yours and let us find a quiet spot before the sorting ceremony.”
The smile that twisted Ominis’ mouth now was a question Evelyn had been dying to answer. Without any further provocation, they took off from the station and landed at the front door’s of Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, before any other student had departed from Hogsmead station. Only before they could step foot in the castle, Deek once again appeared before Evelyn with a loud pop.
“Master Ominis, Deek is very pleased to see you return to Hogwarts,” Ominis bowed his head slightly at the house elf’s warm wishes. “Deek is sorry to intrude,” the house elf offered, noting the clutched hands of the young couple, “but Professor Weasley has asked Deek to inform you that she must speak with you immediately.”
Evelyn couldn’t stop the sigh from rushing out of her lungs, it had been three weeks since she had last seen Ominis and the entire time had been spent worrying about his safety and missing his presence.
After Sebastian had been taken from Hogwarts, Ominis and Evelyn had grown closer, seeking comfort and friendship from each other to ease the guilt of turning in their friend. It was worse for Ominis though, Sebastian had been like a brother to him for so many years. Throughout the summer they had corresponded via letters so that by September Evelyn knew the worst of Ominis’ life and he learned the details of what had happened between her and Ranrock.
A few weeks into their sixth year, Ominis asked Evelyn to join him in the undercroft, he hadn’t managed to go down since Sebastian was arrested. It was a brief visit, where the ghost of Sebastian’s memory could be seen in a discarded gobstones game and books with the corner of pages still folded but with no owner to pick them up again. They kept visiting though, maybe they both hoped it would assuage their guilt; they decorated it with transfiguration spells that allowed for thick rugs and old armchairs, a bookshelf and a wizards chess table, things that added up to small comfort and made the space theirs.
On Samhuin, after the feast, they descended again into the undercroft. The intention had been to light a fire, to symbolise the bonfire traditionally lit and then perform a ritual that would allow Ominis to send well-wishes to his deceased aunt. Only the spell had been something Evelyn had found in the restricted section and instead of sending well wishes, it brought the spirit of Noctura Gaunt to them. The ghost had screamed a banshee’s cry until the pair of students found a way to banish her. After fearing for their lives, Ominis had grabbed Evelyn to him and kissed her; the pair had been navigating the woes of young love since then.
Ominis’ thumb stroked across the back of hers in a comforting motions, “It’s alright, we can catch up after the feast. I am head boy now, I ought to…”
“Deek thinks Master Ominis does not understand. Professor Weasley has asked that you both meet her in the headmaster’s office.” Ominis’ frown matched Evelyn’s and she glanced to him but neither knew, nor could they have suspected what the meeting was about.
☾⛤☽
Professor Weasley kept her lips pursed as she waited in the headmaster’s office, hands clasped before her and eyes trained on the returning pupil sitting in the armchair opposite the desk. The portraits surrounding them whispered but after a glower from her they hushed for a minute before their voices sounded again, only this time they were barely a murmur. Professor Black did not appear any more pleased than Weasley but the letter still laid out before him had come from the ministry itself. Apparently they had been trying a new rehabilitation technique with young offenders.
Neither teacher had initially recognised the young man who’s hair was combed back and face freshly shaven to reveal an angular jawline and a heavy brow, but that also wasn’t a surprise on Professor Black’s part, he despised the pupils who were unfortunately under his care. When Weasley and Black had last seen the man, his face was still rounded with youth, baby-faced and jovial, but that underlying mirth had been hardened in the year and a half since he last set foot in the school. He wasn’t angry though, he had been cordial, well-mannered, nothing like the boy he had been and that made Weasley apprehensive.
A knock on the door had the teachers looking up from the young man, but if they had been watching him, they might have noticed a flicker in his eyes, a drop at the corner of his mouth but it was only a twitch of emotion; he had trained himself over the years not to reveal too much. A red tipped wand entered before the owner and the stranger’s heart beat heavily against his ribcage.
“You wanted to see u…” Despite his pale unseeing eyes, the lean and tall man whispered, “What the f…”
“Thank you Mr Gaunt,” interrupted Professor Weasley.
Another person pushed Ominis further into the room, she was smaller than the returning student remembered but he hadn’t forgotten her hazel green eyes, not the way they took in every detail of a situation. Even now her gaze bounced from Weasley to Black and then finally rested on a face she never expected to see again. Evelyn halted in the doorway, lips parted slightly and words dropped from her mouth in a whisper.
"It can't be..."
Sebastian Sallow stood and if they hadn’t known him they wouldn’t have noticed the twitch of a familiar smirk but it was insincere, like it had been practiced. His eyes dropped to their still clutched hands and somehow, his already dark eyes darkened. Ominis dropped Evelyn's hand, that motion breaking whatever was going through Sebastian’s mind and his gaze snapped back up to their faces, the darkness temporarily forgotten or hidden.
Their once friend cast his gaze over his once best friend, “It’s good to see you again Ominis,” he paused and then slid across to Evelyn, “even you Evelyn.”
Ominis stepped slightly in front of his girlfriend, defending her from the potential threat of someone he once knew. Sebastian scoffed and his dark stare continued to rake over Evelyn, he knew that she was more than capable of taking out most of the people in this room, he had felt the effects of her magic before.
“Mr Gaunt you undoubtedly remember Mr Sallow,” Professor Black interrupted the energy charged trio of students. “He will be returning for his final year. Now there is an sorting ceremony…” In typical Black fashion he did not appear in any way bothered to explain the situation any further, and in a standard Weasley way, she did.
“I will speak to these three in my rooms then Headmaster, and explain the circumstances.”
“Yes, yes.” Professor Black shooed Professor Weasley toward the door, “No doubt a Slytherin pureblood such as Mr Gaunt here can handle the situation.” It was irrefutably meant as a compliment on Professor Black’s part, but the words had Ominis, Evelyn, Sebastian and even Professor Weasley all flinching to some degree.
Without anything useful from the headmaster, Professor Weasley lead the students from the office, past the golden griffin and back down the tower’s spiral staircase with floating lanterns bobbing through the centre. Sebastian behind Weasley and Ominis just behind him, still keeping himself in front of Evelyn just in case. Evenlyn though, couldn’t stop staring at the back of Sebastian’s head, his frame was taller, broader, more muscular, more man than the boy she had last known but what she wanted to know the most were his thoughts on what they had done. Did he hate them for turning him in? Surely he couldn’t not? She knew she would feel betrayed. Maybe if she could explain that he had gone too far? But no, Sebastian never listened to reason, that had always been the problem. So she twisted her fists into the fabric of her cloak as she fretted with every stair down and around every corner.
Evelyn knew some of the senior teachers lived in this tower rather than the faculty tower but she had never needed to know more than that. Professor Weasley halted outside one of the ordinary doors, casting the imperturbable charm which muffled the password she gave to unlock the door. The door swung open to reveal a cosy living room, the large hearth was already lit and Sebastian dropped into the couch closest to its heat, his features schooled into almost a bored facade. Ominis hadn’t stopped frowning since they had walked into the Headmaster’s office, Evelyn noticed, and even now his brows were knit tightly together as his wand guided him to the sofa opposite Sebastian. Evelyn hesitated, hovering near Ominis’ seat but far enough from the fire, she was already sweating. Professor Weasley positioned herself directly in front of it thankfully blocking more of the heat and took in each of the students.
The professor clasped her hands in front of her, “As Professor Black explained, Sebastian here will be rejoining us for his final year. The Minister for Magic is concerned that too many young people are currently residing in Azkaban and has devised a rehabilitation program which Mr Sallow has been a part of for the last year.” At the mention of the prison, Sebastian’s face visibly greyed, but he offered no comment to what his teacher told. “Sebastian does not currently have a wand and he will not be allowed a wand except for a borrowed one during practical lessons with teacher supervision.”
Sebastian shuffled in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest and something in the movement reminded Evelyn of a frustrated toddler. “It seems a little extreme if you ask me,” he grumbled.
“You should be grateful to be here right now Mr Sallow,” Professor Weasley interrupted sharply. “Somehow despite all your galavanting in your fifth year,” Weasley looked to both Sebastian and Evelyn this time and the latter had the decency to hang her head in shame, “Mr Sallow achieved exceptionally good grades in many of his O.W.Ls. He will therefore take up subjects that either of you are taking,” Weasley directed Evelyn and Ominis. “Between you both, I expect you to help Mr Sallow settle back into his studies.”
“And tattle on me if I’m a bad boy,” Sebastian added drily.
Professor Weasley pinched the bridge of her nose, “Thank you Mr Sallow.” With a sigh, she moved her hand and directed her gaze to Evelyn, “Just as you required in your fifth year to catch up, Mr Sallow will require use of the room to assist him in catching up. I know you still use it for your own studying and I do not want to take that from you, so I ask that you instead share the room with Sebastian.”
One eyebrow lowered of Evelyn's, the right one Sebastian remembered and it tugged at something in his chest to see it was still something she did. If he remembered correctly, her cheeks would hollow a little now where she was biting the insides of her cheeks, something she did when she tried not to react without thinking. As expected Evelyn did just that and inexplicably, Sebastian felt his eyes begin to prickle. The voice in his mind that had been his only companion for so many months scolded him and he pinched the inside of his bicep. These people had betrayed him, there was no place for them anymore, and certainly no room for nostalgia. Evelyn's annoyance landed on him with the same hazel eyes that had haunted his dreams and nightmares for too long after he left Hogwarts. Salazar though, those eyes. Again he slapped himself mentally and felt the iron clad walls descend, and even Evelyn watched as Sebastian's once warm brown eyes turned hard.
"I'm not sure Professor…" Evelyn hesitated, her gaze lingering, searching for the person she once knew.
Professor Weasley's features softened, knowing she would feel just as uncertain as her favourite pupil if the situation was reversed. "Deek will be vigilant and Mr Sallow will only be able to practice magic with Deek's supervision."
Evelyn continued to hesitate until Sebastian cocked a brow, silently challenging her to refuse. Or not so silently when he said, "Are you scared of me now that you know what I'm capable of?"
Evelyn's jaw hardened and Ominis groaned, "Please don't…" he started to warn but his girlfriend had already made up her mind; she couldn't back down from a challenge.
"Fine. We'll make it work."
Professor Weasley nodded, “It is settled then. Miss Lacey if you could please make your way to the feast. Mr Gaunt and Mr Sallow will be along shortly.”
The young woman said nothing before leaving the room, and after the final click of the door, the two young men waited for Weasley to say her piece. The returning student picked at lint on his trouser leg, appearing to the world as unbothered, almost bored. Ominis meanwhile remained frowning, the lines between his brows etching deeper into the skin, his head slightly cocked as if he could examine the countenance of his old friend through sound alone. He had known the person opposite since they were 11, meeting for the first time after being sorted into Slytherin. Anne had reached across the table, hand outstretched to him until Sebastian had elbowed her in the ribs and pointed at Ominis’ eyes; they didn’t know how the wand allowed him to see in other ways. Ominis had sunk lower onto the bench, wanting to blend into the furniture if it meant no one would notice but Anne had scowled at her brother and introduced them both, demanding to know Ominis’ name. The thought of Anne now tugged painfully at his heart, especially with Sebastian sitting opposite him now, the two of them mere strangers.
“Mr Gaunt, I know you are yet to enjoy the privileges awarded of the Head Boy but given these unusual circumstances, the head boy rooms have been altered. Sebastian will have a bedroom in your rooms.”
“Yes Professor Weasley,” Ominis answered dutifully.
Professor Weasley turned to Sebastian who, as ever, remained pitifully bored. “Do you have any objections, Mr Sallow.”
An almost feral grin split across Sebastian’s face, “I am ever grateful for the opportunity to be here ma’am.”
Weasley frowned, “Yes, quite,” she drawled, unamused. “Please wait outside Mr Sallow, I require a word with the head boy alone. After which we will both accompany you to the feast.” This prompted Sebastian to snort but he said nothing further before leaving the room. Professor Weasley sighed, dropping into the spot Sebastian had vacated. Ominis had never seen her look quite so old before.
“Forgive me Ominis but I am tired and must speak frankly. I am not convinced this scheme of the Minister of Magic’s has been quite thoroughly thought through and I of course am concerned about the emotional and mental damage a place such as Azkaban may have inflicted on Mr Sallow. You must not let him be alone even for a moment. Not without Miss Lacey or yourself being present, do you understand? I know I ask a lot of you but I do believe he will be less likely to rebel with you than if a teacher was required to accompany him all day.”
“I understand, Professor.”
“Good. I expect a weekly report of our returning student’s progress as well. Perhaps during your free period before lunch on a Friday, you can meet me in my classroom?”
“Yes, Professor.”
Weasley seemed to hesitate for a moment, taking in the youth in Ominis’ face and yet he seemed so harrowed. It saddened her to see student’s who carried the weight of so much but could do nothing to ease their burdens. “Very well, let us return to the feast.”
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The portraits lining either side of the grand staircase gossiped about the returning students who had filed into the Great Hall, their chattering somehow perforating the thick stone all the way to where Evelyn was taking the steps two at a time. It was from one of the portrait’s who had a second frame in the underground harbour, that she learned the first years had just arrived and were beginning to gather near the viaduct entrance. Her mind had whirled at how the evening had turned. How had Ominis taken the news? After the cruel childhood he had endured, Ominis had learned how to perfect a mask so stonelike that Evelyn found it so difficult to tell what he was feeling unless he told her outright, even after all this time.
“Evelyn,” the sound of Poppy Sweeting’s call as she entered the dinning hall pulled Evelyn from her thoughts. She looked along the Hufflepuff table to find the brunette waving emphatically. Beside her the much more timid Adelaide Oakes was tugging on Poppy’s sleeve, her gaze darting across the other students taking note of them. Evelyn grinned, her heart lightening at the sight of her best friends. Across each of the house tables though Evelyn received shouts of greeting, waves and nods from friends and allies she had made over the last two years. How far her mundane muggle life now seemed. If she were still living it she could have been married, running a household and had no idea of all the things she could do, all the power she could wield.
Shaking the thoughts of what could have been from her mind, Evelyn dropped onto the bench on Poppy’s left side, leaning forward so their housemates wouldn’t hear when she whispered, “I have so much to tell you both.”
Adelaide immediately chewed on her fingernails, ever prone to worry before there was even cause to do so. Poppy, on the other hand, leaned closer, her face lighting with eagerness for a new adventure.
“We saw you fly off with Ominis,” Poppy waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
Evelyn blushed, remembering her plans for the evening before… the pink quickly faded, her smile with it. “We were intercepted.”
Adelaide, despite her obvious reluctance to be privy to the gossip, asked, “By whom?”
“Initially Deek but ultimately the Headmaster.”
Adelaide groaned, “The term hasn’t even started yet…”
“I didn’t do anything,” Evelyn interrupted the chastising while Poppy giggled, the discussion a recurring one between the three women. “I promise, it wasn’t because of me.”
“What, pray tell was…”
The doors to the Great Hall nudged open and two students entered. The hall fell silent.
Both men glanced at the Hufflepuff table, almost at the same time. Almost half the heads in the hall turned to look too. The other half still focused on one of the men. One set of cloudy eyes felt tuned to Evelyn, the red glow of a wand definitely assessing her. The other, a pair of rich brown, also unreadable but also tuned to Evelyn immediately. Sebastian strutted past the Ravenclaw table, turning his back to the Hufflepuff’s and stalked to the Slytherin benches with such entitlement, he fit well amongst many of his peers seated there. A handful of whom greeted him more warmly than the other student’s of Hogwarts appreciated, including the rest of Slytherin House. Ominis however lingered, torn between the woman watching with such uncertainty and his charge for the year. With a sigh, he followed his housemate to their table.
“Was that…” Adelaide began to ask.
Evelyn nodded, “That is what I wanted to tell you.”
The joy of the sorting ceremony only went so far in filling Evelyn’s heart. Her friends had tried to push for more information but with so many prying ears also wanting a glimmer of something for the rumour mill, Evelyn remained tight lipped. As prefect for their house she pushed it all deeper into her mind so that when the newly appointed students were welcomed into Hufflepuff she greeted them with her warmest smile. It had been a surprise when she was appointed as a house prefect, even though she was well liked among the professors it was no secret that she was one of the least rule-abiding students in the school; she suspected it had something to do with helping to save Hogwarts from Ranrok.
Through the feast she committed each of the first year student’s names to memory, there were only 10, some of whom were muggles; it was their names she committed first, knowing how strange it was to find yourself still in this world and yet completely foreign. When the feast ended Professor Black wasted no time in dismissing them, the prefects leading each house, beginning with the first years. Hufflepuff house was first to file out of the great hall, with Slytherin to leave last which left no opportunity to speak with Ominis.
When Evelyn led them past the kitchen, to the end of the corridor, they halted beside the final barrel. Warnings were issued not to forget the tune to Helga Hufflepuff’s hymn lest they be coated in vinegar with no way through the barrels. A feeling of warmth, home and comfort washed over Evelyn as she stepped into the soft light of the Hufflepuff common room. Her heart squeezed painfully at the thought that this would be her last year here while these students, inspecting every plant and portrait with such wonder, were only at the beginning of their journeys.
“Boys dormitories are on the ground floor. Girls upstairs. Lights out are at 10 but you are to be in the common room by 9. Teachers and prefects will be patrolling the corridors and will issue detention if you are found roaming the halls after then.” Evelyn explained to the group as she led them deeper into the common room. Girls, with me.”
Arthur Plummley, Evelyn’s counterpart, stepped forward, the grate of his nasal tone irritated Evelyn enough that she practically ran up the stairs as his words chased her, “Boys follow me.”
With the new students settled, Evelyn returned to her own room where Poppy was lounging on her bed, trunks opened and possessions scattered across the floor whereas Adelaide was carefully folding and hanging each item of clothing. Evelyn’s cases, which had only been packed a few hours ago, were stacked neatly next to her bed. She tugged at the knot of her tie until she could free the top button of her collar before discarding her robe on the bed and kicking her shoes next to the trunks. A cup of tea floated toward her as she flumped down on the soft eiderdown blanket covering her bed.
Adelaide halted her sorting, clothes hanger dangling between her fingers with a floral blouse precariously half on it. Poppy leapt from her own bed and crawled onto Evelyn’s. “Sebastian was allowed back,” Poppy’s eyes were clear and bright, the topaz brown reflecting the candlelight of their room. Poppy lived for adventures and secrets, and Sebastian Sallow was the biggest scandal outside of Ranrok’s failed attempt at destroying Hogwarts.
Evelyn let the honey sweetened tea take some of the dryness from her throat but still she could not respond.
It was Adelaide’s soft cadence that answered instead, “Have you spoken with him? Is he angry with you?”
Evelyn slowly shook her head. “I don’t know,” she managed to whisper.
There were only a handful of times that Evelyn had seen the timid witch angry, but this evening her face flushed pink, “How can they let him back? He murdered a man.”
It’s complicated, Evelyn’s inner voice was quick to respond, but Adelaide wasn’t wrong. Sebastian’s crimes were… well Evelyn had been there. She had failed to stop him.
Poppy, as always, saw through the facade. Her loving and loyal friend saw the good in so many, even while fighting against the wicked in most. A bowtrickle crawled out from her sleeve and scuttled along her arm to her shoulder. Poppy stroked along its long sticklike body, cooing at the insect as it rubbed its tiny head against her fingertip. “Professor Weasley would not have agreed to his returning without a good reason.”
“It was the Minister for Magic’s idea.” Adelaide sank into the armchair between hers and Evelyn’s bed, a cup of tea magically floating its way toward her. Even Poppy remained silent, a frown now creasing between her brows. “Apparently it’s some test to see if prisoners can be reintroduced into society.” Evelyn continued to explain.
“But they’re dangerous,” Adelaide blurted, fear darkening her usually silvery eyes.
Poppy sighed, “How dangerous was Sebastian really?”
“He killed his uncle,” Adelaide argued aghast.
“He thought his sister was going to die,” Evelyn interjected with the detail she knew her friends were missing. “He was scared and desperate, and I turned him in.”
“You did what was right,” Adelaide defended.
The shame was clear on Evelyn’s face to both of her friends, but rather than be forced to answer them a firm tap on the window saved her. None of the women were surprised by the sound, it was a normal part of their daily life at Hogwarts, so when Adelaide flicked her wand and the latch of the half moon window opened to allow a speckled, soft brown tawny owl swoop through to land on the perch at the base of Evelyn’s bed, no one bat an eyelid.
“Hello Jesper,” Evelyn cooed softly, moving to the stand to gently stroke the top of her owl’s head. She reached for the note tied to the owl’s leg but Jesper snipped his beak gently, an act of annoyance that Evelyn would dare take the note before providing a treat for his hard work. Evelyn chuckled, cast accio for the treats buried in her case and dropped them onto the little tray on the perch. Satisfied at the reward, Jesper held out his leg.
The note had one word written in delicate cursive: Undercroft?
☾⛤☽
No light penetrated the black lake thus providing no extra illumination through the domed stained glass in the centre of the room. Sebastian and Ominis hadn’t spoken as they stalked the corridors down to the Slytherin common room, the latter content to let the prefects take charge of the new first year students. Despite the normal chatter, whispers surrounded them, followed them and itched along their skin. Especially when Ominis murmured to Sebastian to follow him.
The head prefect room off of the Slytherin common room was meant to be a one bedroom enclosed suite. With NEWT classes and additional responsibilities as head boy, the luxury of the suite was meant to afford its occupier the quiet space they would need. Instead the round space with its Gothic, vaulted ceiling and walls was smaller than expected, containing a fireplace, couch and small table and chairs for study with two doors leading off; one to the left of the fireplace, and one to the right. Sebastian lounged on the couch while Ominis glanced in both rooms, the wand in his hand warming when he approached the slightly bigger of the two. It seemed to say this to Ominis, in its almost smug buzz through the wood.
“That one’s yours,” his tone was short as he gestured to the door to the right of the fireplace and entered his own room.
Sebastian appeared a moment later in the open doorway and leaned against the frame, his broad shoulders filling most of the space, especially as he crossed his arms over his chest. “What? You don’t want to taunt the first years for old times sake? We can stick to the mermaids or we can make up something new.”
Ominis scowled but ignored the other man, flicking his wand instead to the cases that began unpacking and folding clothes into the mahogany dresser or hanging them into the matching armoire. Paper, quill and an ink pot floated onto the desk next to the door, the quill already dipping into the pot seemingly of its own accord, its scratching against the paper the only sound for a moment.
“Or,” Sebastian hedged, “we could talk about how you and Evelyn betrayed me?” he asked casually.
“You betrayed yourself.” Ominis responded curtly. “Stay here. I have prefect duties.” The piece of paper from the desk folded itself and zipped out of the room ahead of Ominis who pushed past Sebastian easily, stalking out and leaving his former friend alone with only their thoughts for company.
☾⛤☽
The firepit in the centre of the room was already lit, warming the stone floors and walls. A wizards chess table was playing its own game to one side of the room, book cases filled the back wall, and general tatter filled the space. On a side table next to one of the couches surrounding the firepit, Ominis found a textbook he had spent all summer searching for, clearly forgotten before the end of term last school year. The fire burned hot enough to burn his cheeks but he hadn’t noticed, instead his attention had been grasped by the whisper of pages turning, the soft hum of satisfaction as someone read the contents of a book. His wand created an image of Evelyn’s dark hair unfurled around her shoulders, cloak nowhere in sight, wand discarded on another table with a half full teacup, and a book in her hand.
Ominis crept forward, he had perfected how to move almost silently over the years trying to escape his parents and older siblings. Evelyn was lost within the book, her thoughts within its pages and the outside world ceasing to exist. Or so Ominis thought, but the scent of softly fallen rain and sandalwood caressed her before firm arms wrapped around her middle and a familiar mouth kissed her neck. The tight anxious knot that had been grinding into her chest since they arrived at Hogwarts earlier that evening finally released.
Evelyn leaned back into the embrace as her boyfriend asked, “What are you reading?”
With a sharp clap she closed the book, sliding it back onto the shelf, “Just getting ahead on reading for Ancient Studies class. I’m useless with dates and names; I don’t know why I’m taking it to be honest.”
Ominis took Evelyn’s free hand in his and led her back to the couches around the firepit. “You’re not useless. We can study together just like we did for our end of year exams and you will do amazing.”
He sank into the sofa leather and pulled Evelyn into his arm. Kicking off her shoes she curled her feet up next to her and nestled tighter into his nook. Only the crackle of the fire broke through the evening air, Evelyn content to enjoy being at Ominis’ side once again while he gently pressed his face to the top of her head and inhaled the floral notes of lavender and orange. Breathing in the scent of Evelyn was like tasting freedom. A warm contentment flushed through him, like someone had cast a spell but both of their wands were on the table and this feeling didn’t penetrate externally, it very much expelled from within.
He brushed his fingers along her jawline, the smooth texture of unblemished skin soft beneath his hand, and tilted her jaw up toward him. A quiet gasp parted between them as Ominis lowered his mouth onto hers and finally for the first time in weeks he had exactly what he wanted. Gently his lips caressed Evelyn’s conveying whispers of longing and love but Evelyn didn’t see it for the invitation Ominis had meant it to be. Instead she pulled back, a furrow between her dark brows as she asked,
“How was… Is he…”
“Ev,” Ominis sighed, “I don’t want to talk about him right now. What I do want,” he wrapped his arms around Evelyn’s middle and pulled her across his lap until she was straddling him, her skirt hitched high up her legs, “is to worship the woman I love who I haven’t seen in a month.” Ominis’ hands grazed the top of her thick grey stockings, skirting where the stitching met the bare skin of her thighs. “Would you be agreeable to such a thing?”
Evelyn licked her lips, wanting to squeeze her thighs together to relieve some of the pressure between them but there was something else threatening to press against that part of her body, if only she sunk down a little. This was what she had originally planned for the evening. She didn’t plan on answering, she knew her answer and her hands were already feeling their way up Ominis’ muscular chest, her mouth lowering back to his.
“I’m going to need your consent, my love,” he murmured before he allowed her to kiss him.
Evelyn whimpered and sank down to feel the firm press of his hard length through his breaches against her core. It satisfied her to feel his own hiss of pleasure. “I consent.”
Ominis’ mouth crashed against her own, one hand freely roaming up her leg to grip at the bare thigh, the other cupping her backside to pull her closer to him as she ground against him in slow torturous circles. Evelyn pulled the silver and green tie loose from around Ominis’ neck, and worked the first few buttons so her palm could connect with warm flesh. Ominis followed her lead, freeing her blouse enough for him to kiss his way to the soft spot of neck just below the earlobe that would have Evelyn whimpering, as if on queue the sweet mewls came from his girlfriend.
“Well… this was not the sort of welcome back party I expected but I won’t complain.”
Ominis growled against the spot below Evelyn’s collar, holding her firm against him when she tried to extricate herself from his lap. “Leave us alone Sebastian.”
“And miss the show?” Sebastian sunk into one of the armchairs Ominis and Evelyn had added to the undercroft last year. “I like what you’ve done with the place. Are you practising playing house together?”
Ominis snatched his wand from the side table but Evelyn placed her hand over his; he didn’t drop his wand but he did allow her to halt him and he took a deep breath and allowed Evelyn to take the seat next to him.
Evelyn schooled her face into neutrality, “Can we help you, Sebastian?”
He had grown into a handsome face but he twisted it into such a sneer that Evelyn leaned back repulsed.
“If you’re offering,” Sebastian’s hands went to the button’s of his trousers. Within a second Ominis had cast a wordless jinx and the armchairs flew backwards, Sebastian tumbling with it.
Evelyn sighed, “I’m going to bed.” Sebastian swore and groaned as he pulled himself back to his feet. “We aren’t enemies Sebastian. “ The returning student scoffed but said nothing further before Evelyn cast the disillusionment charm and left the two young men in the undercroft.
Before Sebastian could climb to his feet again Ominis cast another spell, “Petrificus totalus.” The full body bind curse toppled Sebastian onto his back again. His old friend stood over him this time with his wand aimed at him. “Never disrespect Miss Lacey in such a manner, ever.”
Ominis’ wand hand shook as he tried to control the anger that racked through his body, all the while Sebastian’s gaze was fixed to the ceiling, unmoving but not unseeing. Ominis finally controlled himself enough to turn away and just as he reached the exit cast Finite incantatem, releasing Sebastian before he also exited the undercroft.
☾⛤☽
The door to the Hufflepuff suite slammed shut but neither Poppy nor Adelaide were asleep yet. Poppy’s side of the room was still covered in scattered clothes and open trunks. Adelaide’s on the opposite side was perfectly organised except the bed where the two lovers had been clutching one another before their roommate burst through the door.
Adelaide squeaked as Evelyn announced, “I hate him,” before removing the disillusionment charm.
A hand with a wand waved from over the blanket pulled over the girls’ heads and a dressing screen moved in front of Adelaide’s bed, blocking Evelyn’s view.
“Ominis?” Adelaide asked from behind the screen.
Poppy appeared first, pulling her arms through her nightgown as she shook her head in disbelief, “There is no way the golden boy has done anything that serious. He’s besotted…”
Evelyn tsk’d at her friends, “Of course not Ominis.” She flung herself onto the patchwork quilted bed. “Sebastian.”
“You have quite lost me Evelyn deary,” Adelaide flicked her wand and the screen moved back to the side. “I thought you and Ominis were…” her cheeks were flushed as red as the Gryffindor colours but Evelyn didn’t see, her own face still buried into her pillow, cheeks flushed just as pink as she thought about what Sebastian had walked in on.
Poppy and Adelaide caught bits of words muffled into the pillow but unable to catch the full thing, Poppy finally stood and pushed Evelyn onto her back so she was no longer speaking into the plump cushion.
“Start again,” Poppy directed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed and waving a wand at a nearby teapot, cup and saucer.
“Ominis and I were… well… use your imagination. And then he… eugh. I hate him. He thinks he can just… and talk to me, to us like that… he’s such a…”
Poppy smirked, “So from what I can gather Sebastian walked in on them in some state of undress and she’s embarrassed.”
“I wasn’t undressed,” Evelyn grumbled.
Poppy cackled, Adelaide scowled and Evelyn groaned, flopping back into her pillow.