POV ADA MARROW
The last few months into Spring was purely for preparing for my O.W.L.s, It was difficult seeing as every day passed my Nightmares grew more vivid and worse. Even worse than the constant night terrors, Sebastian had been avoiding me. I had thought that his breaking it off just meant we'd stay friends but no. He had taken to cutting me out completely, every time I'd try to talk with him about Anne, how I was caring for her and that she was safe, he would turn the other way at my approach and hurry off. He however still spoke to Ominis, much to Ominis disdain; he wasn't very pleased with Sebastian's actions towards me and made it very well known to the other boy.
I was lucky to have Ominis by my side, his presence reminded me I wasn't truly alone. I was wanted and cared for by him. I was attempting to take notes in the Library, Ominis sat across from me. I hadn't slept the last few days, I could feel how heavy my head was as I started to nod off. Only for my mind to snap me back awake, it was purely a fear response.
"Ada?" I looked up, Ominis voice was laced with concern.
"Y-Yes?"
"Are you alright?" He set his quill down, fingers lacing together, resting them on the table. He was assessing me now, waiting for my answer.
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine really."
"Then Poppy Sweeting is lying to me about you not being able to sleep the last few nights and you're constant night terrors that spook your house mates?" His voice was dry. Damnit Poppy, she had been worried about me but I didn't think she'd go and tell Ominis.
"Poppy didn't lie..." I murmured, I couldn't look him in the eyes. Even if he couldn't see me.
"You haven't informed me of these because?"
"I didn't want you to worry." He sighed, closing his book. He rose up from his seat
"Come on."
"What, where are we going?"
"To Professor Sharp, he'll have a recipe for a Dreamless Sleeping Draft you can use. Honestly, I wish you were more selfish at times." He was already walking, wand raised up in hand. I hurriedly gathered up my things and followed after him.
"Ominis, I don't want to bother him-"
"Please he's set on making sure you succeed with outstandings in his class. If he finds out that your performance is threatened by sleepless nights he will help you." His voice was scolding, I managed to catch up walking close beside him. My eyes had never been so heavy, my body ached for sleep and my mind felt jumbled. I felt a yawn force its way past my lips.
"After this, you're going to wherever you have Anne hidden, drinking it and sleeping the rest of the day."
"But I need to study-"
"You won't absorb anything you're studying when you're mentally exhausted." He stopped us outside of the Potions classroom. "Besides, taking one day away from studying will not hurt your grades." I reached over and opened the door for Ominis, allowing him to walk inside freely. I really couldn't argue. He was the voice of reason in my sleep deprived brain. Once inside I saw Professor Sharp putting away left over books and supplies on a shelf.
"Mr. Gaunt, Miss. Marrow, what do I owe the pleasure?" He set the small crate of items down on a nearby desk.
"Ada has been having nightmares, consistent nightmares. Poppy told me she hasn't slept the last few days." Professor Sharp raised a brow, eyes going from Ominis to me. I looked down, feeling just a bit of shame.
He started to walk from the shelf to his private office, vanishing inside for merely one second before he limped back out holding a rather large bottle.
"Dreamless Sleeping Draught. I had hoped that my assumptions wouldn't be true after what had happened, that you would be fine but you've gone through so much at such a young age. More than I would have liked for a Student of mine to go through." His eyes were soft, handing me the bottle. "Two drops in a cup of water, once you drink it all, it will knock you out for a full eight hours. So be sure you're in bed, somewhere safe. It should last you through the summer and when I see you next I'll give you another bottle." My hands held onto the bottle, nodding.
"T-Thank you Sir."
"Now get some rest Miss. Marrow and Mr. Gaunt, I spoke with the other teachers about your lack of sight. Your Potion O.W.L.s is going to have a different grading criteria and it will be taken on your own after class."
Ominis grimaced, lips pulled to a thin line, "Yes, of course Professor."
"I expect your supplies to be fully stocked."
"Yes Sir."
"You both have a good evening." He turned from us, his hand resting on the table to support himself as he limped back to the shelf. Ominis and I left the room, walking with him until we reached the Library.
"I'll leave you to go wherever you have Anne hidden, you have a good evening Ada."
"Actually Ominis... Anne has been asking for you. She wants to see you a few more times before you leave for the Summer."
He looked hesitant, "I worry if I'm made aware of her location Sebastian may press me for it."
"Then I won't tell you. I'll lead you to it, so you're completely unaware."
Ominis let the words sink in, mulling over what I planned. He pocketed his wand, "Alright, lead me then." I held onto his hand, leading him off to the Astronomy Tower.
POV OMINIS GAUNT
I let Ada lead me off, after some time or going down corridors and twisting and turning I was thoroughly lost, having gone to an area of the castle I've never been to. I didn't break the silence nor ask questions, then we stopped and waited. I heard a door open, we walked again, the stone flooring turned quickly to slick marble. It was so silent here.
"Mistress Marrow brought another friend, Deek is most pleased to meet another of her friends." That sounded like a house elf.
"Yes Deek, this is Ominis Gaunt. He'll be joining me to visit Anne."
"Deek is happy to meet Mr. Gaunt! I can bring you tea? Yes?"
"None for me Deek, we're just here to visit Anne. Is she in the Vivarium?" A Vivarium? In Hogwarts of all places.
"Yes Miss. Sallow is having tea. Deek will get more cups." Then there was silence and we started to walk again. Until the marble turned to stairs then the stairs turned to grass, stone and dirt.
"I can see why you said Sebastian would never find her."
"Every person has a unique room and the room will only reveal itself if the person is in need of something. So for Sebastian to find my specific room he'd have to be walking by thinking of wanting to see Anne but he doesn't have any classes in this tower."
I nodded along at her explanation, enjoying the cool breeze and the warmth of the sun overhead.
"Anne!"
I heard a surprised yell then I was suddenly hugged, "Ominis! I'm so happy to see you!"
"A-Anne it's only been a few months." I hugged her back, "How have you been?" I asked her quietly.
"It's so peaceful here and I adore the Nifflers."
"Nifflers? There's Nifflers here?" I asked, pulling from the hug.
"Yes, Ada has quite the collection of them."
"It's only five..." Her voice was a bit quiet.
"Only five she says, most would dare care for one. Not counting your Graphorns you're breeding, the Kneazles, your Gryphons and a PHOENIX!"
"I'm sorry you have a Pheonix and a Graphorn?" She had been much busier than I had expected, yes I knew she was raiding poacher camps but breeding Graphorns? "Next you'll tell me you have a Basilisk."
"Well no I don't have that, they're much too dangerous to keep here." Ada admitted, she sounded embarrassed.
"And a Graphorn isn't?"
"It's tame!"
"How did you manage to tame a Graphorn?"
"I mean I fought it... Then I gained its respect and it follows me willingly..." She sounded so unsure as to the reason the beast followed her. "But besides that... Ominis is here to keep you company... I really need some sleep." Ada murmured.
"Oh alright Ada." Anne took my hand and led me off to a stone seat. I heard a wooden door open then close,
"Is there a house here?" I questioned, brows raised up.
"Yes, Ada conjured it for us to stay in..." Anne went silent, my hand felt over the smooth stone table in front of us.
"Deek brought the extra teacups Miss. Sallow!"
"Thank you Deek. Ominis and I are going to catch up, you wouldn't mind giving us some privacy?"
"Yes of course, Deek will be in the main room if you need Deek!"
Silence hit us again, then I heard her lift something, metal scrape against the stone. She was pouring tea into a cup for me.
"Is it still one Sugar?" Anne asked me.
"Yes, just one." I confirmed, my hands felt over the table feeling for the cup, My hands holding it once it was located. The warmth coming from the cup warms my hands up.
"... Ada won't tell me what happened between her and my brother." Anne was quiet now. I stayed silent, eyes closing briefly to prepare myself to tell her.
"Sebastian is avoiding her, practically pretending she doesn't exist."
"Is it because of me?"
"No, not because of you. Ada hasn't gotten the chance to tell him that you're safe and in good hands. Every time she tries to approach him he runs away from her." I tried to not let the frustration of this entire situation show on my face.
"It's absolutely hurting her inside, it's left her heart shattered and with me to repair it all." My words came out a bit harsh.
"My brothers' an idiot... I could tell she was upset... I figured it had to do with Sebastian but I didn't think he'd break it off with her like this." Anne had gone quiet.
"I wish you'd be willing to smack some sense into him but if I'm to be honest I feel he doesn't deserve her anymore. She's too kind and I've found them separated because of his attitude and inconsistencies one to many." The anger slipped, memories of her sobbing in the Undercroft how defeated she sounded when I sat with her during dinner.
"...Ominis?" Anne murmured, I heard her set her cup down.
"Yes?"
"Do you love her?" Her question was soft.
"I... I don't feel comfortable answering that."
"I know Sebastian at the very least is attracted to her. The way he looks at her like she's a light and he's a moth but you... I've never seen you this angry at him before." I did love Ada and I had avoided pursuing her because of Sebastian, because I love Sebastian. I wanted him happy and I felt with Annes condition worsening he needed someone like Ada. Someone, loyal and caring.
He'd hurt her too many times, more than I felt comfortable with. All those times he had hurt her and I had only watched it happen over and over again.
"Can you tell me more about these other times? I know that something happened before Winter break..." I listened to her, bringing the tea up carefully to sip at the slight earthy yet sweet flavor.
"I'm unsure how much of what they were doing together was explained to you."
"You can tell me everything."
"He's been the main catalyst for every time they've had a rift."
"Yes?"
"After finding the book, he delved into it and ignored her for weeks; even after she... took that curse for him."
"What do you mean curse?" Anne was quiet, I couldn't gauge her reaction.
"...In the Scriptorium, we passed many different trials... One of them trapped us, the only way out was to use Crucio on someone. I couldn't use it on either of them, I cared too much to want to inflict such pain. Sebastian attempted to teach her it but I wouldn't let him... and she... She told him to cast it on her and he did. Anne, her screams..." I heard her suck in a breath, shocked by this.
"I... I didn't know."
"I figured, but since you're aware of his dabbling there's no reason to hide it. He's used all three Unforgivables."
"I take it, it worked?" Her voice sounded tight.
"Yes it did... Why?"
"From what you told me about the Unforgivables, Ominis. They won't work unless you truly mean to impose harm onto them."
"Yes and?"
"Perhaps... My brother didn't truly care about her as much as I'd like to believe." The words struck me, you had to mean it for the curse to work. It worked on Ada... Why had it taken me so long to realize this? I felt my hands squeeze the fragile cup then. The stress caused it to shatter in my grip. Hot tea stung at my fingers, the porcelain crumbling.
"Ominis!" I heard the scraping of a chair and hands on mine. A cloth cleaning the tea off of me.
"I'm a fool... I'm a fucking fool." My words came out strained, I had been so distressed during that time and worried about Ada that my own words hadn't connected to Sebastians actions. I let Anne clean my hands off and cleaned the tea.
"You're no fool." Anne stated, "You're forgiving and trusting."
"I'm sorry Anne, I need to think about some things." I tried to get up, but her hand kept me seated.
"Ominis... I see how you react to her, how your face softens when she talks. How softly you speak with her. Please, I think you should confess to her."
"Anne, she's going through too much right now. She doesn't need a boyfriend, she needs a friend-"
"And the fact you say that makes me believe full heartedly that you should confess to her." She held my hands, hers so small and fragile squeezing mine. "Please, at least think about it."
I felt my tongue run over my dried lips, "Fine, but not this year. I need to think on some things; my family is plenty fucked up Anne... I can't just drag her into the things Sebastian tried dragging her into." I heard her sigh, then hiss out in pain.
"Anne?"
"I-I'm fine Ominis." She was in pain again. Trying so hard to not cause me any distress.
"Do you need me to get you anything?" My pitch may have gotten a bit higher.
"N-No just get Deek and...DEEK!" Anne called out.
"Oh Miss. Sallow, you're in pain again?"
"Y-Yes Deek, please can you escort Ominis to the Floo? Please?"
I felt a spindly hand grab mine, "Yes of course Miss. Sallow and Deek shall get your medicine for you as well! Please Mr. Gaunt come with Deek!" I raised up from my chair letting the house elf lead me to the Floo.
"I'll see you again Anne, promise!" We were back in the room, I was still being pulled by the Elf. I had a lot that I needed to think about.
POV ADA MARROW
We had successfully gotten passed our O.W.L.s now only waiting for our grades to be passed out over the last coming week. The Dreamless Sleeping drought worked, every night I had a full eight hours of dreamless sleep and I was happy enough that Professor Sharp gave me enough to last through the summer. I sat with Ominis at the Slytherin table during lunch.
"I think I failed my Potions exam." He murmured.
"Why was that, what happened?"
"Sharp examined my potion and said it was off color..." He whined a bit, I couldn't help but laugh softly. He had the most miserable expression.
"Oh don't worry Ominis, he said they altered your grading rubric."
"I know but I really can't repeat Potions again next year, I'll be behind everyone else." I reached out and took his hand.
"You'll be fine." I reassured him, his face seemed to flush.
"Y-Yes, I suppose you're right." He sighed, "it's always so nerve racking"
"I know I was pretty nervous as well."
"Well you were far behind the rest of us, didn't they alter your grading rubric as well?" He questioned.
"Yes, but it's much more strict than yours and I was expected to do more." He winced, sucking in a sharp breath.
"I suppose that's why you had to stay after all your classes."
"Yes, that was why." I murmured, sighing "I'm just glad to be done with it. Hopefully I'll get Acceptables."
"I believe you're to hard on yourself." Ominis admitted taking a sip from his tea cup. "I think you'll excel in every category. There's no reason you wouldn't. I mean you picked up every thing rather quickly, you wield magic like you've been here since First Year probably even before that. You've learned spells that the Professors didn't think would be necessary to teach you-"
"With your help." I butted in, he was making me blush. I was embarrassed by the slew of compliments.
"Don't act like I forced my old spell books on you-"
"Miss. Marrow!" Our head whipped around, Ominis looking rather confused and I looked just as confused seeing Professor Weasley standing behind us.
"Y-Yes Professor Weasley?" I asked, looking up at her, she didn't seem herself. Looking rather concerned.
"The Headmaster would like to see you in his office, post haste."
"May I ask why?" Now I was nervous, you only go to the Headmasters office if you're in trouble.
"It has to do with your Guardianship. You have visitors." She lowered her voice a bit more, "You're not in trouble Dear."
"Alright..." I murmured, Professor Weasley smiled at me and left us.
"I can walk you there if you like?" Ominis offered.
"Please? I would so appreciate that." Ominis nodded, slipping from the bench. I followed after my hand resting on his arm.
"Black doesn't appreciate lateness. We should take the Floo to the Trophy room." He stated, I whined.
"No, not the Floo. I hate using the Floo."
"I thought you said you no longer throw up?"
"Well I don't but it's still jarring. I'd much rather climb up the stairs."
"Well I'd rather not." Ominis admitted, "So we're taking the Floo, you silly girl." He murmured. I gasped, swatting his arm.
"I am not a 'Silly Girl', Ominis."
"Oh yes you're right how rude of me, you're the tiniest little garden snake. To be honest I'm surprised you're a Hufflepuff. Much too sneaky and you lie too easily." He teased me, amusement laced his voice. A slight grin gracing his face as I stopped us at the Floo.
"You're positively awful." I mused, smiling at him. I gave his arm a squeeze as I let go.
"Oh for you Ada I try to be."
—-
After the Floo I needed a second to compose myself. Taking in deep breaths while Ominis rubbed over my back.
"It's okay." He patted my back.
"I'm fine... I'm fine now. Wasn't as bad as last time." I shuddered and straightened myself. I hooked my arm with his, walking us up to the Headmasters office.
"I'll wait out here for you." He said, leaning against the wall just outside of the office.
"Alright." I bit my lip and walked in, seeing Headmaster Black sitting at his desk with two people sitting across from him. One man and one woman.
"Ah, Miss. Marrow! Wonderful, you arrived so quickly. It was brought to my attention that now Professor Fig is gone you no longer have a Guardian to watch over you. Your admittance papers only had him on it but I have favors owed to me by the Ministry, so I managed to get in contact with your Parents."
My heart stilled, eyes going wide as the Man and woman looked back at me. My mother had her impossibly black hair up in a bun and my Father had a mop of unruly dark brown hair sitting to his ears. I had my fathers eyes, black pits but his felt cold and dead. I could only guess why that was.
"Sempra?" The woman murmured, she had a bit of an accent; perhaps they lived in Norway. My mouth felt dry.
"Headmaster Black I don't know these people." I stated cooly.
"I should have Professor Weasley change her name on the Transcripts. Sempra was it? Lovely name."
"That won't be necessary, we'll be transferring her out of Hogwarts to Durmstrang with her brother." The man stated, i felt my blood run cold.
"I'm not going anywhere with either of you and my name is ADA, not Sempra." I bit out.
"Miss. Marrow we can't allow you to live on your own, you must have a Guardian." Black stated, rather unamused by my back talk. "They're your closest living relatives."
"They abandoned me because they thought I was a Squib. Now suddenly I have magic and they want me back?" I saw the woman sort of flinch, but her face seemed to detest the accusation.
"This is not up for debate Miss. Marrow." Headmaster Black started to stand up walking slowly over to me. I wouldn't let them take me.
POV OMINIS GAUNT
Her parents were here, her voice sounded strained, panicked even and when i heard someone get up from a seat I pushed my way into the Headmasters office.
"Mr. Gaunt, I didn't call for you." Headmaster Black stopped walking standing there.
"I escorted Ada here, I also planned to inform you my parents agreed to take her in for the summer." I lied, probably the best lie I ever told someone actually.
"They're always interested in making new allegiances to other pure bloods." I was pretty sure Ada was a Pure-Blood.
"Well Mr. Gaunt, that is very kind of your family but I'm afraid I'd need a letter from them and her Parents would need to approve it."
"I know for a fact they're not her legal Guardian. They would need to send the request into the Ministry to claim her again and that even with Pure-Blood status and Ministry connections can take months."
"Who is this boy?" I heard a man speak.
"Ah right. This is our very own Heir of Slytherin, Ominis Gaunt."
"A Gaunt you say?" The woman's voice sounded so soft, if not a bit unnerving, "You're Theodoras' son." How did she know my mother? I tensed a bit, hand reaching to grab onto Ada's. "And?" I questioned.
"Well Verith, I don't think there's any harm in her staying with the Gaunts over the summer. He is right, we do need to send in a request and even so by the time we do have the authority to transfer her to Durmstrang she'll already be through her sixth year." She had an odd happiness to her voice. I only heard the man hum, he wasn't much of a talker,
"I suppose." He murmured, "Fine. Let's go. Thank you Headmaster Black for informing us of our Daughter's whereabouts. She will be attending her Sixth year here."
"Of course Mr. and Mrs. Marrow."
I felt the two adults walk past us, one I assumed was Ada's mother murmuring, "I'm happy to see you again." She murmured, then left us; the words made my skin raise up. Happy to see her again? She abandoned her.
"Miss. Marrow, you're both dismissed." I pulled Ada with me, like hell I was letting them take her.
POV ADA MARROW
The arrival of my parents had shook me, not because of their sudden presence but because despite how calm as my Mother looked I saw hurt in her eyes at the idea she had abandoned me and when Ominis was introduced to them, she had a pleased smile spread over her lips. She knew his mother as well, which was equally concerning.
Ominis had reassured me he hadn't told his parents about me and that this summer he would be staying with Sebastian at Feldcroft. As emotional support, seeing as Sebastian had apparently also had a few nights where his Uncle haunted his dreams. I had passed almost all of my classes with Outstandings. It was a marvel really, everyone in my house was surprised by how well i did. It was quite the commotion in my House Commons, Poppy had nearly hugged me to death and others in my house wanted to celebrate it.
Victor Bratly our house Prefect and Quidditch Seeker snuck House Elf wine into the common rooms so we could celebrate. I could see why the girls fawned over him, with his Honey like Locks of hair and his warm Amber eyes. He was very kind and apologetic that he didn't get to meet me sooner, seeing as I was incredibly busy and away from the castle so often. He was a Sixth year going onto a Seventh year and he hoped that Quidditch would return next year so I could play for the house, seeing how quick I was on my broom. I told him I'd think about it.
For now I was seeing Ominis off; he'd be going with Sebastian to Feldcroft. I held his hand as we walked to the cart Sebastian had brought down from Feldcroft for him and Ominis to use. He couldn't run away this time, I needed him to know about Anne before he arrived back to see her gone. I helped load their things into the cart, once finished I looked to see Sebastian climbing into the driver's seat.
"Sebastian, I need to speak with you before you go."
"I don't really want to talk-
"It's about Anne." I stated curtly. His jaw clenched then he got down from the seat standing mere inches from me. Ominis stood off to the side looking hesitant. "Anne isn't at Feldcroft."
"What?" His brows twisted in confusion.
"She's staying with me over the Summer."
"Like hell she is, I'm her brother-"
"Yes and she doesn't want to see you, be happy you even know she's safe and well cared for. She had originally planned to leave on her own without telling anyone where she was going."
"Where is she?"
"I can't say, all I can tell you is that she's still in the region and that she's safe. That's all she'll let me tell you. I tried talking with you about it sooner but you avoided me rather expertly." I didn't stop the bitterness from slipping from my lips.
"This is bullshit and you know it Ada, no one can take better care of her then me."
"She seems to think differently but besides that. I'll be working on a cure for her while she stays with me." My eyes flitted to Ominis, "I'll write to you both, it's up to either of you if you wish to respond to them." I reached out and took Ominis hand, squeezing it.
"I'll see you Ominis, I hope we can get together over the Summer while you're in the area."
"Of course." His voice was low, his hand squeezing mine back. I sighed and turned away from them going back to Hogwarts. I needed to retreat to the Room of Requirement before all of the students left. I could feel Sebastian's gaze still settled on my back, it seems I may have pissed off a snake. Lovely.