Chapter Text
Now that Sebastian and you were finally, officially together, and he no longer had to badger Ominis with his tormented feelings about you, he began to wonder if Ominis had a crush, too.
They sat together at their normal table in the Slytherin common room, pouring over their homework. “Say, Ominis, I don’t believe I’ve asked before. Is there anyone you may be interested in?”
The normally-composed Ominis flinched.
“Well… erm… yes, I suppose there is someone.”
“Oh yeah? Who is it?”
“I’m not going to say.”
“It had better not be Sienna.”
Ominis sighed. “While she is admittedly quite something, I know better than to impose on another man’s lady.”
Sebastian felt some relief at that, and a little bit of pride, too. But Ominis still hadn’t revealed anything. He groaned inside his mind - getting there wouldn’t be so easy. “It’s not Violet McDowell, is it?”
“No, Sebastian, we are not going to play guessing games.”
“Suit yourself.” He shrugged. “Will you ever tell me, though?”
“Perhaps one day.”
As Sebastian tried to fall asleep that night, he could only wonder, who was this lucky lady who had captured the stoic Mr. Gaunt’s heart?
…
The truth was, just like Sebastian, Ominis was also head over heels for someone, and had also been for a long time.
Ever since Sebastian found out that Ominis fancied someone, he would tease him about it from time to time, trying to pull out the answer. “Hmm, I saw you and Poppy in the Greenhouses today. I wonder if you two might be a good match.”
Ominis never responded to such accusations, but it didn’t seem to stop Sebastian.
Admittedly, Ominis had also had a slight crush on you for some time, just as seemingly every other bloke in your year did. But you were officially Sebastian’s territory, and he wouldn’t dare encroach on that, as he would almost certainly lose his friend forever. Besides, he liked seeing you two together, he liked how happy you made each other. You were the light in Sebastian’s darkness. You kept him from turning back to the dark side.
No, this was someone different. But someone who was also as bad an option, if not even worse in some ways.
It was Anne Sallow.
Not only was she Sebastian’s sister, but she and Sebastian had barely spoken after what had happened last spring. Anne was eventually found and returned to Feldcroft, where an older couple was assigned to help look after the two Sallows that summer. Although Sebastian had tried to make amends with Anne, she wasn’t ready for things to go back to normal and spent as little time in the cottage as possible. Instead, Ominis spent more time out and about with her, while Sebastian sat indoors alone, writing letters to you. A few weeks in, upon a flare-up, the Ministry decided to send Anne to a ward at St. Mungo’s where her condition could be monitored and controlled while her next home was decided. Ominis visited her there as much as he could over the summer, and felt his feelings grow.
“I don’t understand why you can’t just tell me,” Sebastian muttered, after he had tried to guess Cressida Blume. “Merlin knows you know everything about my love life.”
“I’m sorry, Sebastian. I promise there’s a good reason why I can’t say.”
Sebastian raised an eyebrow. “It’s not one of the professors, is it?”
“Goodness no!”
“I’m just saying, I’ve heard several blokes talking about how they would romance Professor Garlick,” he said.
“I don’t know what you’re hearing, but I’m glad I wasn’t a part of that.”
“Hmm.” Sebastian wondered if there was any other way to find out, since getting him to answer through asking about it seemed out of the question. Maybe Ominis had told you?
…
While relaxing with you in the Room of Requirement that night, his head resting against you, Sebastian decided to ask.
“There’s something I’ve been wondering, darling.”
“Yes?” you were trying to review a scroll for Transfiguration class, but a certain someone was intent on distracting you, the way he would play with your hair and pepper kisses on your cheek. He liked seeing you mildly frustrated like that.
“Has Ominis ever told you who he fancies?”
“Ominis likes someone?” you asked.
Oh, clearly not then, he thought. It seemed you were surprised to find this out.
“Yes, although he won’t tell me who it is. I’ve been trying to find out, but no luck so far.”
“Well, who does he spend most of his time with?”
“Apart from you and me, I’m not sure if there’s anyone, to be honest.”
“Sounds like he wants to be the third wheel,” you joked.
“Ha!” Sebastian chuckled at that. “I’m not letting him take a pass at you. You’re off limits.”
“Thank god for that,” you nuzzled your boyfriend’s neck.
“Perhaps you could just ask him? He seems to always tell you things that he won’t tell me.”
“You know he would almost certainly ask me to keep it a secret from you,” you said.
“Oh. That’s right.” Sebastian didn’t want to betray his friend - again. “It’s just… I want to see him happy, you know? He deserves it. When I think of how you make me feel, well, I want that for him too.”
“That’s very sweet, Seb.”
Of course, the main reason was to satisfy his curiosity. But it wasn’t a lie, either, that he wanted Ominis to find happiness with someone he loved.
…
In Charms class the next day, your brain wandered to what your boyfriend had told you last night. Ominis fancied someone? Who could it possibly be? Ominis had always been a bit of a loner when he wasn’t with Sebastian and you. Hmm… maybe asking him wasn’t such a bad idea after all. You had to know.
You asked him to come to the Undercroft with you after class. Sure, he had said.
“What’s on your mind, Sienna?” he asked once you both arrived.
“Sebastian mentioned to me that you may be interested in someone, but that you aren’t ready to say… I just wanted to let you know I’m here if you ever want someone else to talk to about it.”
“Sebastian put you up to this, didn’t he?” Ominis asked skeptically.
“He did at first, but… that’s not why I’m here. Anything you tell me will be kept strictly confidential from him and anyone else. I just want to offer to help you talk through it, as a friend. I know I can be a little more… level-headed than Sebastian sometimes,” you attempted a small smile.
“In that case…” Ominis sighed. “Thank you for being here. For all the times he’s made me listen to him about you, maybe it’s not such a bad idea to have a favor returned. You promise not to tell him? This is a very big thing I’m trusting you with.”
“I promise.” You nodded.
“It’s Anne,” his voice leaked out quietly.
You almost jumped and asked What? but you restrained yourself, knowing the seriousness of the situation. “Anne… Anne Sallow,” you repeated. Better make sure it’s the right Anne.
“Yes, Anne Sallow, Sebastian’s twin sister. I know it may come as a surprise, but we’ve been close for as long as I can remember, and we write to each other regularly. And I hope you now also realize why I can’t tell him about it.”
“Of course, I understand now. Your secret is safe with me,” you reminded him. “I can tell you’ve always cared so much about Anne… I’m sure she cares for you, too.”
“I’m certain,” Ominis said. “But… it's complicated. Between her condition, and my family expectations, and the whole ordeal with Sebastian, I’m afraid it’s not as simple as ‘just tell her’ in my case.”
“I’m sorry, that does sound difficult. But I believe you two will figure it out one day.”
“Thanks, Sienna. It feels good to finally tell someone about it.”
“Any time, Ominis.” As you left to head out of the Undercroft, you heard him mumble something else under his breath.
“…We held hands on that last day of summer,” he confided. I’d never held hands with a girl before.”
“I know she values every single one of your letters,” you said. “Perhaps when the time is right, you’ll have the chance to make your feelings known. And as for Sebastian… I’m sure he couldn’t think of a worthier partner for his twin sister.”
Ominis blushed at the comment, a soft smile on his lips. “I hope that may be the case.”
…
The next day, you and Sebastian were on a walk around the grounds, holding hands while enjoying some fresh air before your next class.
“Ominis told me, by the way,” you said quietly.
“Told you what? The Potions quiz answers?”
“No, you silly. He told me who he fancies.”
Sebastian nearly stopped in his tracks. “And?”
“My lips are sealed. I promised him.”
“Ah, of course.”
“But I’ll just say this. I think it’s the most wonderful match.” You looked out into the vast sky, and then over to your boyfriend standing next to you. “Apart from us, of course,” you winked, earning yourself a kiss.
Sebastian tried his best to stop badgering his friend after that, but he still wondered about it, sometimes.