POV ADA MARROW
I will not lie, when I say that after that night I had become a bit of a recluse. I was rightfully embarrassed and while I couldn't avoid Victor seeing as he was my Prefect, he profusely apologized to me about the whole ordeal, I was also correct to think he wouldn't remember anything either.
I accepted it and strongly turned him down. I was not interested in him and he apologized once again, saying he'd stomp out any rumors about us. For that I was thankful. As for the other two boys, I was avoiding them the best I could. I didn't sit with them in class. I avoided looking at them and as soon as the classes ended I practically ran away. I felt awful for it but rumors had spread like wildfires about me going into the boys dorms and not leaving until the early morning. The amount of boys questioning me or flirting with me as if I was a harlot was aggravating, to the point I was threatening people.
Even so, with Ominis first trial a week away, I was nervously walking with Imelda to the Quidditch Pitch for another race. She had reassured me Sebastian wouldn't be there but I saw now with her in her Quidditch gear that was a flat out lie. She pulled me into the girls changing room and cornered me.
"Okay, broom down, it's time for a talk. Spill it." Imelda stated rather curtly at me. Her lip almost up in a snarl and her arms crossed over her chest.
"Spill what? T-There's nothing to spill!" I sputtered out.
"I want to hear every last detail of what happened that night that you've been avoiding talking about with everyone."
"I thought we were going to race, Imelda…" I whimpered softly.
"Oh we are and I'm going to beat you this time but I am your friend and I feel you need a good talking to and in order to do that I must be caught up. So spill it Marrow." She loomed over me like some intimidating statue, "Here's what I know. Victor dragged you away; Ominis found you wandering about drunk out of your goddamn mind, then you dragged him to his room and Sebastian escorted you out of the boys dorms in the wee early morning."
She had basically summed up what had been summed up to me, "But there are some things that have been spread around that the boys are trying to keep quiet and I want your input on."
"O-Okay." I sat on a bench as she stared at me.
"You slept with Victor." She stated, I practically shook my head from my neck.
"NO! No! I did not sleep with him, most of what happened was him necking me." I admitted, Imelda looked pleased.
"You slept with Ominis."
"No. I did not."
"Do not lie to me, I saw Ominis leave for the baths covered in your lip coloring. So did every other Slytherin in the common room." Her finger pointed to me.
"I didn't! I just snogged him a lot." I murmured, doing my best to not look her in the eyes.
"And Sebastian? Why did he escort you out?"
"He… He was trying to calm me down from the whole ordeal… I mean Imelda the entire thing was so scandalous, I have boys coming up to me and asking to kiss me or if I want a quick romp in a broom closet." I felt like I'd cry and Imelda was getting pricked hearing talk about the harassment.
"I am well aware because both the boys you've been trying so hard to avoid this past week have been fiercely defending your honor, I even saw Sebastian lose his cool and start wailing on one of our teammates. You NEED to stop avoiding those two. Ominis is looking like a kicked puppy and Sebastian can't stop longingly looking at you or moping around on his broom during practice."
"But…"
"No buts! I'm going to be more blunt than Poppy, Lenora and Adelaide. You were not the only girl who was influenced that night by your brother's stupid choices. In Fact he's so distraught that your reputation has been sullied by his actions he's fully admitted to everyone that he spiked the wine."
"Whenever I find him I'm going to kill him. He's been vanishing from my sight all week." I murmured, I didn't like the fact I was sounding a bit whiny.
"I'd also like to remind you that you're doing to them what Sallow did to you last year." I saw her tongue lick over her teeth as she watched me ponder that statement. I had, hadn't I?
"You have only one choice and that choice is waiting here while I grab Sebastian so you can apologize to him. I need him to focus so we'll win the next game."
"Fine… Fine go grab him." I stayed on the bench, hunching over to rest my elbow on my crossed knee, head resting in my palm. Imelda left me to think everything over. How could I have been so horrible to both of them. Right after I kissed Sebastian's cheek and practically assaulted Ominis.
I heard someone clear their throat, I looked up and straightened eyes landing on Sebastian. He was without his broom but wore the Quidditch Uniform. His goggles were pushed back to rest over his hair, pulling the mess of hair from his face. The first time I looked him in the eyes this week I could see pain.
"I suppose I know what it feels like now to be utterly and completely ignored and avoided. I suppose I deserve that."
"No… No you didn't deserve that." I stood up, fingers playing with my skirt, the wool bunching up in my hands, "I'm sorry for doing that to you, both of you. Especially since you've both been fervently defending me." I looked up to him again, seeing the start of a blooming bruise on his jaw. I couldn't help the guilt that spilled over me, I couldn't look at him again.
"You shouldn't get hurt because of me." I murmured, then I felt arms wrap tight around me as he squeezed me, sighing softly.
"You have no idea how happy I am to hear you talking to me again." His face rested on my head and I couldn't help but hug him back, holding onto his Quidditch robes.
"I'm sorry…" I whimpered softly, hugging him tighter.
"I forgive you." He murmured, I felt his lips pressing to my forehead, hand holding my hair, "You should apologize to Ominis as well. He hasn't been taking your ignoring him very well."
"I will… You wouldn't happen to know where he is?" I looked up to him, my chin resting on his chest. He glanced down, a smirk spreading across his lips.
"The Library but Miss. Marrow I think I'm owed a bit more than sorry." His arms kept me pressed up tight to him. Hand feeling along the curve of my back, "I mean I did uphold your honor after all."
My brows shot up, grinning at him, "Oh and what do you think you're owed?"
"Maybe a proper kiss, like the one you gave me at the game?" He murmured, his brows wiggling at me. I lightly pushed him away, biting my lip to stop the widest smile I've had in ages from forming on my lips.
"Sod off Sebastian." I chuckled and his shoulders shook, amused by my reaction.
"You can't blame a boy for trying."
"Oh you are much more than a boy!" I scoffed, grinning at him, "If you didn't act so brutish you'd be a right proper young man."
"Aren't I lucky to have the attention of such a fine Young Lady." He teased back.
"I thought we established that I'm no Lady." I smiled more shyly at him now, "I'll see you for dinner, I'm going to hunt Ominis down."
"Goodluck." He bowed his head down a bit before leaving me in the changing room.
POV OMINIS GAUNT
Professor Hecat was kind enough to set out a training dummy for me out on the Flying Class lawn. She was in agreement that I needed to spend my time practicing my spell work in a space that I could let loose. She had conjured a stretch of stone pathing for me, just so I could keep my feet steady.
I tried to keep focus, while she stood off to the side and I practiced but my activities had drawn a crowd. I had an audience now, watching me. Judging every move I made. I even heard the familiar voices spreading those rumors of my supposed use of unforgivables.
I could hear the creaky wheels of the dummy resetting, I moved back into position. Free hand resting behind my back, back straight, and wand up.
"Now Mr. Gaunt, I'm going to Jinx the Dummy so it will attack you. Are you ready?" Hecat asked.
"Yes Professor." I murmured, she stepped away from me, hearing a quick flick and a bolt of magic hit the achy metal of the dummy, I readied myself. Eyes closing so I wouldn't be distracted by the light of the sun.
The metal creaked, wheels scraping along the stone. I could hear some younger voices gasping at what I assumed was the dummy coming to life. The audience is fine, I repeated to myself. It was going to be much louder during the tournament. I needed to focus. The sound of wheels furiously growing closer made me act.
POV ADA MARROW
I watched the Dummy halt mere feet from him, rising up into the air. Ominis had been particularly gifted with Non-Verbal spell casting. Those watching were in awe as the dummy shot back with a flick of his wand against a tree, the metal groaning from the impact. I approached the area closer watching his arm swing down. The dummy's head collided, with a loud crunch, to the floor.
"Wonderful, absolutely wonderful Mr. Gaunt. This time use offensive spells!" Professor Hecat praised him, waving her wand to fix the dummy up and reset it into position. Ominis reset his position. Wand up, back straightened and eyes half lifted as he waited for the que.
The minute it creaked forward, I saw his wand flick out pulling it towards him, the dummy wobbled in the air just a foot away.
His wand rested forward, sparks ignited, then a blast shot the dummy back against another tree; this time the tree groaned. students moved out of the way as snapping and cracking could be heard from it, it fell over with a hard thump to the ground.
Ominis grimaced, "I'm sorry Professor didn't mean to take a tree down."
"It's just fine Mr. Gaunt it's the reason why we're out here! Now take a small break while I grab Mr. Moon." Hecat strolled away from the platform.
"And you guys thought I was insane for thinking Gaunt was cute." I heard a girl say.
"You are insane." A boy stated, "Just cause he's gotten taller doesn't mean he's any less of a Dark Art loving prat."
I shot a look at the Boy, my eyes narrowed in on him and he seemingly tensed when he finally noticed me standing by them.
"Keep his name out of your mouth." I hissed out leaning closer to him. He stumbled back from me grabbing the girl's hand as he hurried them off.
"Her eyes turned red!" He murmured.
"No they didn't! Who's the insane one now!" The girl bit out. Ignore them, calm. Keep calm, I started walking through the crowds of students talking about what they had witnessed. At my heel touched the stone his head wiped my way; eyes widening with a bit of hope on his face.
I smiled walking up to him to take his hands.
"Can we go somewhere private?" I murmured to him, doing my best to ignore the people staring at us.
"Professor Hecat maybe a bit peeved that I wandered off, but I think I'll risk the lecture." I saw that small smile form over his lips as his hand held mine and pulled me away from the crowd of people towards the castle.
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"Undercroft." He stated, his wand held high. I could see the upcurve of a smile as I trailed behind him.
—-
When we entered into the undercroft, Ominis had me stand by a pillar then started pacing a bit. I needed to apologize to him.
"I am sorry for avoiding you this last week." I murmured. He waved me off.
"No, you don't need to apologize to me, you were put in a compromising situation. I should have taken you to Imelda or even forced you back to your own common room. Not allowed to go to mine. I could have done a lot of things differently, if I'm being honest with you." He looked so nervous, "In fact before you started avoiding me I had planned to give you a gift but…"
"I avoided… you both like the plague." I murmured, eyes looking at my hands.
"Yes, but it put things into perspective for me." He stopped, head glancing around as if to figure out where I was. I leaned forward in the chair and took his hand. He sighed approaching me.
"Like what?" I asked.
"It… Made me realize how absolutely miserable I'd be without you. I knew that I fancied you…but I think I prefer you a bit more than just that…" His voice was so low as he talked to me. My eyes widened, my heart starting to race as I looked into his starry eyes.
"What do you mean?" My voice stayed soft, anticipating something of mind blowing proportions. His hands let mine go and he started fishing around in his pants pockets.
"I've been carrying this on me since you started avoiding me, hoping you'd see reason." He pulled out just a small paper box. Fingers working to top off to show me the tinkling of silver, the shine of the brazer on the amber and even the tiniest of red gems sat as the snake's eyes.
"We're too young for any sort of ring and I know Sebastian is going to despise me for this but I need you with me. Through this year, the next year and even when we graduate, I cannot imagine being without you." His voice held so much raw emotion, he was already an emotional boy but he was laying his heart out for me hoping I'd care and cherish it; taking that chance that I wouldn't tear it in two.
"Will you be mine Ada?" He was waiting and my palms were sweaty and my heart felt like it would leap from my chest with every thump. I could never imagine getting such an emotional confession. In fact I was so surprised by it I could feel the tears running down my face. It was the first time in a while that I was so sure that someone would never leave my side. I knew that Ominis Gaunt would never abandon me.
"Yes." My words came out strained and I fanned my face with my hand, trying to keep my composure. "Oh Merlin, why am I crying?" I murmured, I could see how wide his smile was as his hand went to my cheek, thumb rubbing along my eye lid to wipe away the tears.
"Come here." He murmured to me, he helped me up and hugged me tight against him.
"Let me put the necklace on." My voice held excitement as I pulled from him.
"Keep your hair up for me and I can clasp it for you." he stated, my hands moved lifting my hair up. I saw him take the necklace and let the box drop to the ground. As his hands carefully positioned the necklace correctly then clasped it. My finger lightly touched the necklace.
"I don't think I'll ever take it off." I glanced up as I felt his hands cup my face, tilting my head up as he leaned down and missed my lips. His lips landed just off to the side, but I adjusted my face and kissed him properly. My hands moving to rest on his chest, I could feel the stirring of butterflies in my stomach. His hands slowly stroked down to my neck, then broke our kiss.
"I've been wanting to do that for a while." He murmured.
"You kissed me a week ago." I giggled, my hands held onto the front of his robes.
"You must be out of your mind if you think that was a proper kiss." He laughed, "You being drunk off your ass and trying to shove your tongue down my throat isn't a proper kiss."
"Which part wasn't a proper kiss?" I teased a bit, my hands moving up to rest my arms on his shoulders. His hands moved from my neck to rest at my waist.
"The Drunk part, Ada." His head leaned down, forehead resting against mine. He held me in the Undercroft for quite some time.
POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW
I met Nox at the bridge near the Forbidden Forest, staying out of sight by leaning against a crumbled wall. It was getting close to Dinner, the sun was setting. Meet in darkness he said, we must not be seen. I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his crypticness. Then I saw him, seemingly coming from nowhere as his form slipped from the shadows of the forest trees. He wore his uniform, the robe with his hood up as he jerked his head for me to follow him.
I glanced around seeing the path to Hogsmeade behind me empty, lanterns starting to glow at the fading light. I pushed off the wall and followed him into the darkness of the forest, not letting the eerie noises or sounds of whatever horrors lay off the path.
"Put your hood up Sallow, if we get caught out here we don't need anyone seeing our faces." Nox murmured under his breath. I did as instructed pulling the hood up over my head, I kept my pace quick to keep up with him until we stumbled upon a small lake in the forest, moon shining down over it. I could see beauty in this dangerous place. He went and sat down on a rock, hand motioning me to sit on the rock in front of him. I did as I was told.
"Now don't think of this as a first lesson, think of this as an introduction. Before we begin, I need you to show me everything you know of what my sister did last year."
"Show you?" I questioned brows furrowing.
"Think of the events that happened last year, from when you first met my sister to the beginning of this year and I shall witness it as your memory. Look in my eyes." Nox murmured, his hands reached out the leather gloves holding my face as I started into his eyes. Trying to recall as much as I could about what Ada had been up to.
Give him what he wanted, I knew he held no hostility towards Ada. What was the harm of showing him all she could do? How much of a force she really was. I showed him as much as I was willing to; I showed him our conversations, our exploits, her meeting my family. I showed him the dearest memories to my own heart to the darkest ones that I created with my own hands. The love, the fighting, the abandonment and hatred.
His hands left my face, his eyes watching me.
"You used Crucio on my sister." His sun inhibitors low on the bridge of his nose, "care to explain? I saw you were stuck in a hallway."
"It was the only way out. Salazar Slytherin made it so the only way out was to cast the unforgivable." I saw his lips pursed as his head nodded.
"Fine then, I will accept that. I am happy to say that besides that one hiccup and the fights you both had I am willing to continue with our deal because your specific type of love is needed for what plans I have with you." Nox got to his feet.
"What plans are those?" I asked, eyes following him as he made his way towards the sandy shore of the small lake.
"Isn't it obvious? The amount of power my sister wields will be sought after. Sebastian Sallow, I'm going to turn your love for her to obsession and obsession to devotion. With that devotion you will do everything and anything to keep her safe. Is that clear?" He looked back at me, taking the glasses off as he rubbed the gloves over his eyes. He looked exhausted, face paler in the moonlight, lips chapped and eyes sullen.
"Crystal." I murmured.
—-
What do you guys think of a side story focusing on Nox's perspective? First Trial is the next chapter.