POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW

I stood off to the side watching Nox Marrow sit at the fireplace talking with a Slytherin girl about his time at Durmstrang, his house and the extracurricular he partook in. He wasn't even hiding the fact he practiced Dark Arts, something that had people frightened of Ominis, outcast him, and had them attracted to Nox. Perhaps it was his demeanor, how damn cocky he was and how he leaned into those girls and teased them with soft whispers. People were so fickle.
I was waiting on Ominis, despite our fight I had taken the time to cool off. He had every right to not want to help me, he had every right to pursue Ada as well. So I would not let it ruin a friendship that I held so dear to my heart. I had apologized to him when he returned last night, we would be partaking in a healthy rivalry for her affections but for now I wanted to know why Nox was here. Every time a girl asked him why he transferred to Hogwarts he sidestepped the question. I leaned against the railing watching Nox and waiting for Ominis to join me.
A hand rested on my shoulder, I glanced back to find Ominis finding he had finally finished readying himself for the day. Uniforms were still mandatory over the weekends for the sixth year but we had some leeway. His hair was still combed back but his first two buttons of his dress shirt were unbuttoned and his tie loose.
"Is he still here?" He asked, lightly tapping the tip of his wand into his palm.
"Yes he's at the fireplace flirting with a seventh year girl."
"Over hear any information?" He questioned standing beside me now, I straightened out more uncrossing my arms.
"No, only that he was part of House Atticus."
"Those who are particularly brave, cunning and masters of dark arts?" He murmured, twirling his wand at hand.
"Yes, I'm not surprised he was put directly into Slytherin seeing as Salazar himself created the school and supported the creation of that house."
"Yes... Shall we have a talk with him?" Ominis murmured, his eyes narrowing.
"Regular talk or try to intimidate him?"
"I say we rile him up enough in hopes something slips." Ominis held a bit of a hiss to his voice.
"So the old goading and insults tactic?" It was something we'd grown to do well together. Ominis insults the person and I goad them into a fight.
"No, accusations and interrogation."
"Perfect, see this is why we work well as a team."
"Yes we work quite well." Ominis hummed, he started to walk towards the fireplace. He didn't need his wand here. The layout never changed and he had the Common room memorized to a T. I followed after, watching as Ominis hand slid over the back of the couch and arm as he walked around to sit down next to Nox. I followed about the other side taking Flora Jameson's hand.
"Very sorry Flora but Ominis and I need to have a talk with Nox privately." I pulled her up quickly to her feet, she gasped
"How rude!" She huffed, "Another time Nox." Her hands stroked over her skirts as she walked off with a huff.
"I look forward to it, Flower!" He crooned at her, he rested his arms over the back of the couch now, legs crossed. I sat down on his other side. Ominis and I sitting at either side, "So what do I owe the pleasure of having you both butt in to my time with such a lovely girl."
"We'd like to know why you're here." Ominis crossed his legs, head tilted towards him waiting for an answer.
"Well let's see I'm lounging about in my Common room flirting with pretty girls and enjoying my time before I need to focus on my studies." Nox mused, "I would think you'd both be doing the same thing."
"No, Marrow." Ominis hissed out, "We want to know why you're at Hogwarts."
I leaned in to Nox, "We know you're not interested in the curricular here, nor the girls."
"It can't just be because I want to be reunited with my darling sister?" He looked over his nails, then relaxed back
"It has to be more than that." Ominis stated, "I know her parents wanted to transfer her out"
"Yes, they did, but not anymore. They figured she'd just hate them more if they forced her to transfer out."
"So they sent you here to convince her?" I pressed.
"No, actually I asked to be transferred here. When I learned she was attending I wished to see her." His brows raised, looking between the both of us.
"You and your Damn family dont deserve to have her back." Ominis stated cooly, "Nor do you deserve to even grace her presence."
"That's rich, you know unlike your family Gaunt our parents actually care deeply for us."
I felt myself bristle at his words, "Your parents abandoned her with the muggles because they thought she was a squib."
Nox scoffed, "She really is my sister, she's got you both wrapped around her fingers..."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Ominis bit out.
"It means you're both so infatuated with her that you're not thinking of the predicament my sister would have been in if our family had kept her. Can you imagine? A squib, in a Dark Wizard, pure-blood family. Treated as a second class citizen barely above goblins? I may not have agreed with them leaving her in the care of Muggles when, mind you, I was also just a child but at least she would have had the chance of being around those her equals. Especially since she was meant to marry into the Gaunts."
I was silent, as was Ominis.
"What?" Ominis broke the silence.
"Oh I'm sorry you were unaware! Our families had an arrangement, my parents wanted a Parselmouth in the family and your parents wanted to join into a more opulent pure blood society. My mother was ecstatic to see that even after all of these years my dear sweet sister had still managed to befriend the boy she was meant to marry. It was also the reason why they decided to allow her to stay here." Nox rose to his feet, Ominis and I were taken aback by the new revelation Nox had given us, "Now I'll let you both stew that over into your heads, I'm going to have a nice jaunt with Flora." He pulled his vest down, hands running over the cotton of his vest, leaving us.
Ominis was meant to marry Ada? "Did you know about this?" I asked him quietly.
"No I didn't."

POV ADA MARROW

I was taken aback as a leather gloved hand held the crook of my arm. Almost dragging me off to a private area east of the Viaduct Courtyard. Standing me to the stone railing. Trapping me so I couldn't run from him. A statue of a Unicorn towering over the both of us and hiding us from wandering eyes.
"What do you want, Nox?" I asked, crossing my arms as I stared up at my brother. His skin had a paleness to it that almost made him seem sickly. Wearing a rounded pair of sun inhibitors. He didn't look as if he'd seen the sun in ages.
"It's too damn bright at this school." He murmured, fingers slipping under the shades to rub at his eyes.
"Perhaps you should go somewhere, where the sun isn't beating down on us then? Preferably far from me." I pursed my lips.
"Listen I understand your hatred towards our parents, I was cross with them as well for quite awhile but I'm not here because of them." He settled the glasses back onto his nose.
I straightened a bit, "Then why are you here Nox?"
"Because the last time I saw my Sister I was Nine years old and our parents dropped her off in London at a Orphanage." He sounded annoyed, "So excuse me if I'd like to clear the air with her." He leaned back against the base of the statue, hand picking a Lilac from the bush growing at its base. He looked over the tower of the purple flowers. I was silent, taking in what he had said. He wasn't the reason for my abandonment.
"I'm also not here to convince you to forgive them... I figured I'd admit my true intentions before your Lovers decided to fill your head with some nonsense."
"Excuse me? Lovers? I don't have any lovers." My face was turning a bright pink.
"Right, Ominis Gaunt and Sebastian Sallow definitely aren't obsessed with you. Like you're some Veela that's enchanted them."
I bit my lip, "Those two are only my friends..." That was a bold face lie, she had a fling with Sebastian and she knew Ominis had feelings for her.
"Please, Ada, you're not so naïve to think that boys are friends with a girl just to be friends. Take it from one of the opposite sex, both those boys react to your presence like drooling dogs after a bone."
"Now that is an over exaggeration." I frowned at him.
"So you admit that you're aware that they both fawn after you?"
"I... I am well aware." I murmured, I looked away from my brother.
"Mmm well I'll wish you luck on your romantic endeavors and I'll give you time to think on my words. I won't force a relationship between us but I'd like to give you the option to form one with me. Have a good afternoon Ada." He left me, watching him walk back over to a Seventh year girl that had been waiting for him so patiently.

POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW

Sunday evening had been spent with me wandering around the castle looking for Ada, there weren't that many spots she could be at but wasn't with Ominis in the Library nor was she in her Common Room.
I walked in behind a group of people entering into the great hall, they had moved the tables to form a diamond like shape to surround the Goblet of Fire. I saw people slipping their folded notes of parchment into the fire but I wasn't interested in that. I was scanning the seats for Ada. I spotted her sitting with Poppy at the Hufflepuff table watching people put their names in.
A Beauxbatons boy had his leg propped up on the bench next to her, he leaned towards her talking softly; arm resting on his knee. His hair was short and slicked back. He wore no vest or jacket, only the peasant shirt, its ties loose showing off more of his tanned chest. She was smiling at him, politely, sort of how she smiled at Leander. She wasn't interested. As I approached closer I could catch their conversation.
"I always had a soft spot for girls with scars." His thick French Accent was smooth. "They fit you very well."
"Well Thank you Mr. Dubois-"
"Please a lovely lady such as yourself can call me Henri."
"Henri then, I'm sorry but I'm not interested."
"I can definitely play Cat to your mouse lovely little Ada-" I stepped up to him.
"She's not interested, Frenchy." I spat out, the guy looked to me, settling the foot that had been resting on the bench to the ground.
"Sebastian, that's rude!" Ada hissed out at me. Henri looked down at me, he held himself with such poise, but he didn't respond back to me, only looked down to Ada, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles.
"Another time then Ada." He smiled at her, Ada rolled her eyes as he left us. Poppy looked between the two of us.
"I want to speak with you." I stared down at her, she glanced up to me, her arms now crossing.
"I don't-"
"I don't care what you want. Let's go." I grabbed her hand pulling her up to me.
"Sebastian!" She cried out, gripping onto my forearm as I held onto her hand tight.
"H-Hey wait-'' I didn't let Poppy finish, the entirety of the great hall stared at us. From the first to seventh years, our guests; witnessed the spectacle of my brutishness dragging the poor girl out the side door behind me. I was going to be the cause of a scandal. Once we were out in the gardens I pulled her down the stairs taking to a sharp right to the Quad Courtyard.
"Sebastian! Stop!"
"No! We are talking, I won't let you run away from me again, not until I've said my peace."
She yanked her hand from mine, stopping on the zigzag stairs. "Fine! We'll talk but I can walk without being dragged around like I'm a child!" I faced her, motioning for her to pass me.
"Then please come with me then." She walked past me down the stairs and I walked with her past a statue of a mermaid and stopped beside a statue of Poseidon wielding a trident. I couldn't help but pace back and forth gathering up my thoughts as she sat on the bench in front of the stained glass window. I could finally tell her hair had grown longer, now braided over her shoulder and her face a bit gaunt. Something my selfishness and anger had clouded over was how she had grown out a bit more. Her uniform was less loose and fit a bit more snuggly. Her hips were wider and her shoulders pulled back to a more straightened posture.
"I'm sorry-"
"Sorry won't cut it this time Sebastian." Ada bit out, looking away from me her arms crossed over her chest, legs firmly pressed together.
"I know it wont." I had to hold back the annoyance from my voice, "I seem to make constant stupid decisions. So many stupid decisions that it's jeopardize my relationship with you."
"Well I'm glad you finally have some self awareness." She huffed
"I know we can't go back to how things were." I ignored her little jab at me.
"Agreed."
"I don't expect us to go back to how things were, but I would like to win back your friendship."
"Tell me Sebastian, how do you expect to do that?" She murmured, voice a bit strained.
"With patience, care and if you would a promise." I held my hands in front of me, watching as her face sort of softened.
"What promise?" She asked.
"I will not involve myself with the dark arts, the Unforgivables shall never grace my wand again and I will do anything to be your friend." She uncrossed her arms, hands smoothing over her skirt, she looked down to her lap. She bit her lip, brows pressing together as her face held a sort of internal conflict.
"I have conditions that you must agree to." She murmured.
"Anything, I will do anything."
"You can't touch me without my permission."
"Agreed." I didn't hesitate, she chewed at her lip.
"No flirting with me."
"Of course."
"You cannot interfere if others show interest in me, like how you did with Henri." I hesitated, Henri was being pushy; I didn't like the idea of just standing by while guys pressured her.
"Fine... I promise to follow your rules."
"Thank you."
I looked up instinctively hearing the bell tower ring out the chime to signal it was time for Dinner.
"We should get going, they'll be pulling the names soon." Ada said, standing smoothing out the back of her skirt. I offered my arm to her.
"Shall we then?" I wasn't going to force her to take it, she hesitated but slowly her hand rested on the crook of my elbow. I didn't touch her hand, just silently walked with her back to the Great Hall.

POV ADA MARROW

We entered into the great hall packed up, they added in more tables so that the guests could sit and eat with the students. Ominis was sitting close to the Great Hall entrance looking just a bit peeved.
"What has you strung up by your tie?" I asked and he jumped.
"It's the blasted tables and all of the people. I can't properly navigate the Great Hall like this. The magic from what I'm assuming is the Goblet is also interfering with my wand." I sat down beside him and Sebastian on my other side, "I can hear Sebastians with you." Ominis seemed to smile, slightly pleased.
"How in Merlins' name did you know it was me?" Sebastian balked.
"The ring on your finger Sebastian, silver against wood is distinctive and you always touch the table with your main hand before sitting so it clicks against it." Ominis explained, "So I'm guessing you're both on speaking terms again, finally took my advice?"
"Something like that..." I murmured, nudging Ominis with my foot. He smiled in my direction. My eyes wandered watching people last minute put their names in the Goblet, a few running back to their friends giving them high-fives. A group of Durmstrang girls put their names in at the same time as did a group of Beauxbatons talking as they so flippantly put their names in.
"We're agreed that none of us is putting our names in?" I asked, looking at the two boys.
"Never planned to, last year was enough adventure for me." Sebastian murmured.
"Agreed." Ominis, fiddled with his tea cup thumb rubbing over the rim.
I nodded, eyes scanning over the crowds of students intermingling from all the different schools. My eyes landed on Nox, lounged back against the table. Feet kicked out as he talked with a group of girls from Durmstrang. They leaned in at every word he said, some twirling loose strands of hair with their fingers. Others lightly played with his hair.
"I think my Brothers' a rake." I murmured to the boys, Sebastian's eyes followed mine to land on Nox.
"He was flirting with girls all day in the common room." He commented.
"And I thought Sebastian was bad." Ominis quipped.
"I do not flirt with any girl. Just specific ones that catch my eye." Sebastian gruffed out, giving Ominis a slight glare. I looked back at Nox, eyes locked with his. He winked at me, giving me a small wave. My brows knitted together, but decidedly ignored him now. In favor of pouring my own cup of tea, Sebastian was starting to plate out his food. When the lights dimmed and Headmaster Black swiftly walked to the Goblet, wand waving as even the Great Hall ceiling was dimmed down until only the Goblet of Fire was the remaining source of light.
"I have heard excited murmurs around the school and have received many telling me the drawing pool will be the largest it's ever been!" Black spoke with such bravado as the blue flames lit up his silhouette from behind him.
Ominis had faced his head up looking towards the goblet, his eyes catching the light. He had admitted to being able to see light so perhaps he could see the blue radiance of the Goblet. Sebastian had straightened rather interested to see who would be chosen.
"For the glory of Wizard Kind! Those who will be picked will face treacherous challenges! Perilous trials." I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "And the winner shall claim Eternal Glory!" Black tapped his wand on the Goblet, the fire broiling as it spit out high in the air a bit of parchment.
Black caught the paper as it flittered down he unfolded the parchment, "Our first Champion, representing Durmstrang Anastasia Golubev!" The Durmstrang students cheered as a girl with sharp angular features stood to her feet, her uniform was settled correctly, not even a bright red lock out of place. Her smile was small and her head held high as she approached the headmaster. Headmaster Black took her hand and bowed his head to her while she curtsied to him. Taking her slip of parchment she stood back with her Headmaster, who looked quite pleased that she had been chosen. The other students clapped politely for her.
Headmaster Black motioned for the applause to be silenced as he tapped the Goblet again, a little swan was spat out, its tips burnt. I could see the sigh leave him as he used his magic to make the paper unfold.
"The Champion of the Beauxbatons is... Henri Dubois!" Henri had gotten up from his friends walking over in the attire he had worn earlier, his hand twirled in the air as he did a low bow to Black. His shirt hanging from his chest, headmaster Black nodded to him, Henri straightened shaking the Headmasters hand and took his slip to stand with the Madame of his school. Her spindly hands resting on his shoulders as she muttered something into his ear. He only smiled and nodded, looking forward.
I clapped with the crowds of students only briefly so I could sip at my drink. Noticing some of the girls closest to Henri we're swooning a bit in their seats as he gave them a little wave with his fingers.
"Now for our last Champion!" Black tapped the stone goblet for the last time, the flames flared up a small ripped piece of parchment lightly spun down in the air for the Headmaster to catch. He read over the name, his brows raised. Perhaps in surprise, "Showing the truest of Ambition from our house of Slytherin!" Students were on the edge of their seat, though some looked to me surprised I hadn't of been pulled, "Rising beyond his disability, a testament as the Heir of Slytherin, our Champion Ominis Gaunt!"
The other two visiting schools clapped for him but the rest of us were silent. Ominis was stock still in his seat, eyes wide, his pale face catching the blue from the goblet. Sebastian leaned behind me to lean closer to Ominis,
"I thought you weren't competing?" Sebastian murmured to him.
"I'm not..." Ominis strained out.
"They have your name Ominis." I murmured to him, when Ominis didn't stand, murmurs started to spread over the Great Hall.
"I didn't put my name in it." He hissed, worry covering his face.
Headmaster Black motioned with his hand, "Mr. Gaunt if you would come up!"
"You have to go up." Sebastian hissed to him.
"Ada... I need you to lead me up. I can't navigate the tables like this." He murmured, I nodded and got up helping him from his seat.

POV OMINIS GAUNT

Ada led me through the tables up to the headmaster, all while I could hear my peers whisper about me.
'Isn't he blind?'
'We're not winning this year'
'How could he be considered the best of our school?'
I felt Ada stop us, Headmaster Black taking and shaking my hand, "Professor Black, there's been a mistake." I trailed the words out slowly.
"There is no mistake Mr. Gaunt, your name was pulled."
"But sir... I didn't put my name in the Goblet." I stated loudly, so others could hear. The Hall grew quiet, then whispers.
'Who could be so cruel to sentence the blind boy to his death.'
Ada spoke up, holding my hand, "Surely he can be removed, he didn't join willingly."
"As concerning as this practical joke is." He hissed out, "I'm afraid Mr. Gaunt can't be removed, once his name was put into the Goblet he has entered a binding contract. He must see it through to the end."