POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW
I sat down on a crate watching Nox pace around in front of me while he went on with his lecture. The wet smell of moss after the last rainfall filled my nose. I held his spell book in my lap, thumb rubbing along the spine. Trying to get the sight of his sister out of my head, he wasn't very appreciative of the first time he saw that.
My eyes flicked from the ground to him standing there, arms crossed and a look of disgust on his face.
"You really need to get a hold of yourself, disgusting." He hissed out, eyes narrowed in on mine.
"I'm sorry, it's just…" I looked over the book having read it over many times, "I can't help but feel she'll be disappointed in me."
"Of course she will. You lied to her but disappointment is temporary." Nox waved me off rolling his eyes, he still had his hood up but his glasses were off.
"Now repeat the rules of Marrow."
I sighed, "Dark Magic is Grey, To allow magic to control you is weakness…" Trailing off before the last rule.
"The last one Sebastian." His hand motioned trying to get the last one out
"Unforgivables are to only be used to protect those dearest to us."
"Good! Thank you, if selfish thoughts overcome you, what do you do?" He walked closer.
"Remember her." I repeated.
"She is your anchor, she is the thing that will keep you level headed! It's not a thing of what she wants, it's what is needed. She doesn't want you to learn this but you will need to know this to properly protect her, if she holds such a strong power inside of her then People will seek it out."
"No one can steal her magic from her-"
"Yet, they can't steal it yet." Nox pressed that into me, "they don't have to steal it if they can control her. As I know she doesn't have the ability to break free from the imperious curse?"
"No she doesn't."
"Then we continue," he continued with his lecture, "You read and practiced the wand movement for the Statue Curse correct?"
"Yes I did."
"Use it on that sapling." Nox pointed to the small growing sapling near the lake's edge. He stood off to the side watching me carefully. I casted it, the bolt of magic hit the tree, the wood creaked in pain as stone overtook it, once a living object now turned to a delicate statue, he approached it looking over the skinny stone statue. He reached out and took a branch and snapped it clean off the statue seeing even down to the core it was stone.
"Good… practice Fiendfyre next… Now I have questions about your involvement with unforgivables… You taught yourself correct?" He asked me, finally pulling his hood down. His condition from the last time I saw him hadn't improved. His hand ran through his styled hair, his sleeve slipping showing the blackened skin underneath.
"It's getting worse isn't it." I murmured to him, his eyes landed on me, eyes hardening.
"It doesn't matter, my condition doesn't change our goals. Now answer the question Sebastian."
"Yes, I'm self taught."
"Tell me of every instance you used those curses." He sat down across from me, watching me. I wouldn't be able to lie to him.
"I've only used Crucio and The Killing Curse once. I've used Imperio multiple times… When I was teaching myself I used it on a spider infestation out in the forest east of Feldcroft and… and the last time I used it was when I saved my sister from being killed by a Goblin."
Noxs' face softened a bit, watching me more than likely seeing the memory play out in my head, from protecting my sister to my uncle banning me from seeing her. Ada standing up for me, how on the way back to Hogwarts she had comforted me. Every word encouraged me that I had done the right thing. I saw Nox nod, those eyes still affixed onto mine.
"There's nothing to fear from unforgivable magic… if you know how to control it, how to use it correctly and for the right reasons. My sister may think you went too far killing your Uncle but I think it was rightfully deserved considering the circumstances. I've seen from you what happened, what you saw. I've seen your dreams, the ones where you couldn't get up and your Uncle just watched my sister get torn apart by Inferi. I've seen the true one, how Soloman Sallow lost his cool and started attacking after you had pitifully attacked him"
My head bowed down and I felt a pebble hit my head, "Look at me Sebastian." I looked up to him, keeping eye contact.
"If Ada was in Anne's position I would have done the same thing. So don't start thinking every action you made was a mistake because it wasn't. It was done with the best intentions and driven by love for your sister." I never really got to see this side of Nox that often and I felt I could see the parallels between us and our sisters. Though the circumstances were switched.
"You said yours and Adas' wands were similar but different." I changed the subject, I still felt that guilt. That regret for murdering my uncle. Nox went ahead with the change of subject.
"Yes, Willow, Eight and a half inches and Unyielding. Only difference is the cores."
"Dragon heartstring like mine, correct?"
"Yes, hers' is Unicorn hair." I saw nox pull his wand out lightly examining it, "So similar yet different." He murmured out, "Dragon Heartstrings are more susceptible and willing to cast dark magic, I'm even surprised Ada was able to cast the Imperius Curse. Unicorn hair cores are resistant to it."
"I don't know how often she's used it… I only know about the time I taught her."
"You were proud of her." Nox pressed.
"I was… I taught her so much and she was so eager to learn…" Her using it on Flesh Eating Spiders to make them attack each other. Even when she was mad at me during that time, I relished the closeness between the two of us and how even the nastiest of fights spending time together brought us closer until those fights were just a distant memory.
"Love is the most powerful of magic." Nox murmured, "You love her and that is why I'm teaching you all of this."
"It feels so one sided at times." I murmured, chin resting in my hand. Nox let out a ugly scoff.
"If you think the love is one sided then you're sorely mistaken. She loves you just as much as she loves Gaunt."
"It wasn't me in that bed."
"Jealousy is unbefitting of you Sebastian." Nox's voice held a dryness to it, rather unamused. I saw him put the shades back on, even when it was dark. I assumed it was to keep him from accidentally looking into my mind during this current conversation. He did not want to see his sister like that again.
"It doesn't matter if she sleeps with Gaunt. I know you don't give two flying fucks about her virtue. Just remember jealousy will only drive a bigger rift between the two of you." He was looking rather bored of our conversation.
"Then what do you suggest I do to tamper it?" I drawled out. Nox picked up a rock, looked it over and shrugged, chucking it over his shoulder into the lake.
"Oh I don't know Sebastian," He sighed, "Throw your hat into the ring why don't you. You've only been trying to keep your friendship with her intact and the way I see you both together makes me think you've saved that."
Should I?
POV OMINIS GAUNT
"Backstraight!" Anasatia scolded me, her hand moving to straighten my back. I felt silly standing in her room with Henri reading a newspaper in the corner while I tried to keep up with my posture lessons.
Her hand fixed my head posture as well, making me keep my chin up. The two had convinced me to go along with these lessons since the announcement of the Yule Ball and I was being treated like I was a girl being trained for her coming out. I felt something rest on top of my head.
"Did… Did you put a book on my head?" My head moved only an inch and I felt the heavy tomb fall smacking me on my shoulder.
"Don't move, it's proper posture training! If you can move with it on your head without the book falling off then you have perfect posture!"
"That is not how that works!"
"It's to train you!" Anastia argued, straightening out my head again and setting the book back on my head, "You need to look presentable! You need to look the part of an heir and of a Champion!"
"Henri-" I tried to get him on my side.
"Don't get me involved Ominis, my posture is fine. We need you to look presentable for your date." He turned the page of the paper, then I heard him whip the paper to straighten it out. I still hadn't asked Ada yet and after the encounter with Sebastian walking in on us and Ada had started avoiding us again for a week then she stopped avoiding us. She had been incredibly upset over Sebastian and I fighting over her and I felt like I was walking on thin ice around the both of them. She still held my hand, still kissed my cheek but I was afraid of scaring her off. Henri must have seen something on my face.
"You have asked her, right?" He asked, words slow and deliberate.
"I haven't gotten the chance-"
"You haven't asked her?!" Anastasia gasped, "The ball was announced almost two weeks ago!"
"I know but things have been tense…"
"That's no excuse! She needs to know that you're going with her so she can prepare! She needs a dress, shoes…" Anastasia prattled on, a list of things of what Ada would need. I could almost feel my mind go numb.
"Maybe it's best if she finds someone else…" I murmured.
"Do not say that!" I heard Henri drop the paper and his steps hurrying over to me, "Why do you think that?"
"I don't know Henri," I chewed at my lip, taking the book off my head and tossing it to the ground with a thump.
"Anastasia, can you give us both a moment?" Henri asked her and she sighed.
"Yes… I'll go brew some tea, maybe some coffee as well." I heard the heels click against the floor, the door open and shut.
I felt hands rest on my shoulders, "Now what happened?"
"Sebastian caught us… I had her skirts bunched up…" I couldn't say it.
"You Englishmen, if you were going to fuck her just say that." Henri grumbled.
"I-I was, yes… but after Sebastian caught us she kicked us both out."
"So she was embarrassed."
"Yes, then annoyed with us when we got into an argument."
"About?"
"Her virtue…" I murmured and Henri groaned, his hands leaving my shoulders.
"Hopeless, you're hopeless." Henri started to pace.
"Our relationship is strained right now." I murmured.
"Of course it is! She's probably trying to figure out how to proceed." Henri scoffed, "Do you love her?"
"Yes."
"Then you need to communicate with her, apologize for fighting over her like that."
"I'm terrible at this." I rubbed a hand over my face.
"Everyone starts somewhere."
I could hear the door open and Anastasias' familiar clicks sang out with her strut.
"I brought Tea and Coffee! Now let's get back to work!" She chirped out.
POV ADA MARROW
Ada,
You have no idea how much joy I felt when your brother told me you were willing to receive letters from me. I know you may not respond to them and that is fine. I only wish to mend our now very fragile bond. I won't write to you often maybe only twice a week
Theodora Gaunt came to visit us this weekend, apparently Ominis had been chosen by the Goblet of Fire and his Brother Obitus was asked to help with the first trial and saw how close you two had become. I'm happy to see you've grown so close, I was close friends with Theodora when we went to Hogwarts.
Your Father has been tense, apparently Ominis Father was not too happy to hear you were still alive. He's demanding to reinstate the contract from before, I do not wish to worry you. We still don't have custody over you, so we cannot make a contract involving you and I believe by the time we do you'll be of age and you will only have a say in the matter. Not that we want to, it would be different if we had a stronger relationship but we don't.
Tell me more about yourself, what perfume do you like? Your favorite color? I hear the Yule Ball is coming up, I would be willing to send money so you can get a nice dress. I even have some jewelry you can wear.
Love, Your Mother
I sat on a desk quietly watching Garreth Weasley work away at his potion brewing. His sleeves rolled up, tie long gone and wearing an apron so as to not ruin his clothes.
His hair was a mess more than likely from working here for so many hours, when I had arrived it smelled awful and he hadn't even opened a window to air the room out.
I had introduced him last year to my Room of Requirement, allowing him to work on his potions in peace and away from the prying eyes of the faculty and his Aunt.
I folded the letter back up resting it on the desk beside me, wondering if I should write back. I took sips of my own Fizzing Wizzbeer, he had finished it last year and I must say it's rather delicious. Like a fizzing liquid candy.
"Can you grab me a few Mallowsweet Leaves?" He asked, still so focused on his potion making. I nodded and hopped off the table and left the Potions corner crossing the room to my Herbology area. The mass of thriving plants and crates upon crates of potions supplies I had accumulated over the summer was astounding. I went through the bottles of supplies in one of the crates and brought the Mallowsweet to him, setting the goal down on the brewing stand with a small click. Then I returned to my drink, sitting back on the table.
Garreth added the leaves and stored the cauldron then finally stepped back, taking his goggles off and removing the gloves from his hands.
He walked to a seat, dragging it so it was sat in front of me then He sat down.
"What's wrong Ada, you've been silent for the last hour, usually you talk endlessly about school work or ask questions about what I'm brewing and listen to me talk endlessly."
"I don't talk that much." I murmured, eyes narrowing on him.
"Get us both together in conversation and neither of us can shut up." Garreth iterated, we both chuckled
"Oh I don't know Garreth, I don't think I should talk about this with a boy."
"If it's about those two, then It's best if you do tell me. Boys know boys best and no offense to Poppy or Imelda but Poppy just tends to agree with you about everything and Imeldas' words hit like a battering ram." Garreth lounged back in the chair, legs crossing.
"… Fine, but this doesn't leave this room nor do you tell anyone about this." I told him everything from when Ominis and I entered the Room of Requirement. The fact I was so willing at the time to give myself fully to him, to when Sebastian caught us with my skirts hiked up and the fact I had also kicked Ominis out of my room. To their fighting over who got to claim my virtue. As if I was something to be owned.
As I went on Garreths' expression grew more and more surprised, his face turning a shade of red more vibrant than his hair.
"Oh, yes I see why you were hesitant to tell me about this…" He cleared his throat, looking away from me, "Well… Ada I'm not surprised. I think the only thing keeping Sebastian from absolutely losing it is the fact Ominis is his Best Friend. I know if he had caught any other boy doing that to you he would have bloodied their face up."
"He would not." My eyes widened.
"Please… Don't be naive. The amount of people he sent to the hospital wing after that little scandal after the Quidditch game was well into the double digits. He threatened me multiple times because he thought I was flirting with you." He rolled his eyes, the embarrassment on his face was fading away.
"You flirting with me?" The thought of Garreth Weasley flirting with me was laughable.
"He thought those errands I sent you on last year were my attempts at flirting."
"Well that wasn't flirting you were asking favors of me."
"Yes, well tell him that, he's a Jealous Git." Garreth spat out, arms crossed, "I'm sure if he knew I was here with you now he'd be threatening me again."
"Please, he should know better. I've seen you flirt with other Gryffindor girls, you're very forward."
"I know!" He threw his hands up, "And no offense Ada but you're not my type. As sweet and Charming and beautiful as you are, I prefer my ladies to be a bit more forward and aggressive."
"I take no offense, I'm not really into Gingers myself."
"Yes! You're more into the Charming and Dangerous boys that hold a bit of swagger when they walk."
"They do not swagger Garreth."
"Please… Sebastian does all the time and I've seen Ominis walk with such overconfidence when he's set out to do something." He waved me off, getting up from his chair to check the pots.
I couldn't help but roll my eyes as he walked away from me, "That still doesn't help me Garreth. I don't want to ruin their friendship."
"Well you could break it off with the both of them, tell them you're not interested in either of them anymore. They'd be heartbroken but at least they're friendship will stay intact."
"Garreth, that's definitely not an option. I don't think either of them would allow that."
"Then talk with them about it, I don't fight over girls with my friends." He started stirring one of his concoctions. "They both must be so consumed by you, if it was just lust one of them would have conceded by now.
I stared down as my hand played with the necklace Ominis had given me. Watching the double snake pendant surrounding the amber stone.
"Is it… Odd that at times I feel suffocated by them?" I asked quietly, Garreth was silent for a time until he said.
"No… It's not considering how often the both of them are around you. Perhaps that's something you should talk with them about as well. You always study with them, Sebastian claimed you as your Dance Partner for these lessons and Ominis had apparition lessons with you. You at least have one or both of them in all your classes, which they both insist on sitting with you. I think you spend more time with them every day then you do Poppy and that's saying a lot considering you're both in the same house and you're her roommate. If I didn't know you three were very close I'd think they were both harassing you."
"The only time they're not with me is when I need privacy… I think you're right. I do need to talk with them both." I murmured "I can't believe I let this get so out of control…"
"Ada…" Garreth looked back to me, "None of this is your fault."
"It feels like it is…I mean Garreth, I just let Sebastian flirt with me. I let him touch me so casually."
"No, he knows better. Just for now, tell them you'd like some semblance of being able to go out with friends without the two of them tagging along. Or eating alone… Something along those lines."
I nodded, looking down at my drink as I downed it back. Letting the sweetness of the liquid soothe me.
"Thank you Garreth."
"Anytime Ada."