Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty-Two: A Warning from Ominis Gaunt

Setting the gloves in my hands on a shelf, I pushed the blush down that rose to my cheeks at the sight of the note. I hadn't even seen him come onto the pitch, but here was the proof he had.

You and me.

Midnight in the Undercroft.

Come alone.

Sebastian

I smiled to the note and tucked it into the pocket of my robes, picking up the newest everlasting petal and tucking it behind my ear. Imelda clapped her hand round my shoulder as she left the room, a small smile playing on her lips and she pointed to the flower as I waved her off.

Following after her quickly, so as to not get caught by Arcturus, I trudged my way through the grass covered lawns, the feeling the wind significantly more today. Autumn was approaching faster with every day, the leaves falling from the trees with every powerful gust. The large doors of the castle loomed to my left, but I had had enough of walking, my ribs still aching slightly from practice.

Instead I made my way to the Floo station to the right, pulling a pinch of green sparkling powder and tossing it onto the small flame.

"Slytherin Common Room," I said gently. With a whoosh and a rather unbalanced landing on top of the stairs, I was there, the cool room shrouded in semi darkness. I clambered down the steps and made straight for the showers, wanting to eat but preferring to nick food from the kitchens later and enjoy the steamy warmth of the shower now.

Precisely one half hour later, I was showered and warmed, downing a spare bottle of Wiggenweld potion I kept with my things. I made a note to myself to bring a few more bottles from the Room of Requirement next time I was there to replenish my stock. I watched as the deep bruising forming on my body from the Bludger hits faded back to normal. I fingered the area gently, relieved that they no longer hurt to touch.

I pulled on a pair of bottle green trousers, tall black boots, and a black corseted top. A favorite of mine, it had long black sleeves, leather detailings on the corset, complimented by the leather laces up the back and a cut out on the chest, leaving my collarbones lightly exposed, coming together again at the nape of my neck. There was no better way to describe the outfit than sultry.

I smirked at the knowledge that Sebastian loved this outfit, and hoped he still did.

I left my dormitory around eight-thirty, scurrying across the common room quickly to avoid the few students that had gathered in the space. I had just walked out of the common room entrance, hearing the metallic clink of the serpent door melting away and breathed freely in the empty hallway when a voice jumped out of the shadows at me.

"Abbi."

"Ominis!" I shrieked, jumping half a foot in the air and clutching my hand to my chest. Ominis Gaunt stepped forward, his head hung low, wand held in his hand with the familiar red tip glowing. "You startled me half to death."

"My apologies," he said, a little stiff. "I was hoping for a private word with you, if you wouldn't mind."

I glanced down at the small gold watch on my wrist, despite knowing I still had hours before I was to meet Sebastian in the Undercroft.

"No," I said quickly. "No, of course I don't mind. What's up?"

"Not here," he said, still stiff.

"Okay well, then, where?" I asked, a little skeptical. It wasn't like Ominis to be so secretive, and it was hard to imagine there being much he couldn't discuss in the open. Unless, of course, it had to do with Sebastian.

"The Undercroft."

I nodded, then, remembering he couldn't see the movement, said, softly, "Okay, Ominis."

He walked in front of me, his pace quick, clearly determined to get to our destination. We weaved our way through corridor after corridor in silence, the only sound our boots clicking on the stone floors, and the swishing of Ominis's cloak around fast corners.

I pushed open the large doors to the deserted corridor just off the Transfiguration courtyard, and Ominis went first, heading directly over to the curious ornate clock tucked into the left corner of the building. A flick of his wand, and the gears began to spin round, whirring and clicking as they went.

I peeked at him briefly. His blonde hair styled perfectly as ever, pale skin flush of any color, his jaw set. I'd seen this expression before, and I didn't understand what we possibly could have done this time to upset Ominis.

Immediately, of course, I thought of the wisps of ancient magic mixed with dark magic I'd used and inhaled in Feldcroft.

That was silly, though. Ominis hadn't been there, nor had Anne seen. Sebastian wouldn't have told him, so whatever it was Ominis wanted to discuss it couldn't have been that.

The cabinet whirred open and he motioned for me to step inside. I led the way, stepping into the vast open room of the Undercroft. The candles that always burned still twinkled and danced happily along the surfaces as I pushed the grate open and I turned to wait while Ominis closed us in.

"Alright, Ominis, what is going on?" I asked, my anxiety levels higher than I preferred them to be.

He chuckled lightly, "Wasting no time, I see."

"Ominis, if you wanted casual chatter, you would have talked to me the whole way here."

I was getting tired of ominous conversation. First Poppy and the odd entanglement she'd started looking into with this poacher camp. Then, Sebastian sending me a letter so he could coax me into writing Anne. Anne was next inviting us to Feldcroft just so she could tell us to behave. Whatever Ominis had to say, I was at the end of my rope.

"This is true, I suppose. Alright," he sighed. "I just wanted to remind you of the path you and Sebastian walked so precariously in our fifth year."

I gave him a quizzical stare. "I'm aware, Ominis. Hence, why we study together with you and Poppy."

"It's not that path I'm referring to, Abbi."

My stomach flipped uncomfortably. "Ominis, if you are about to lecture me for having feelings for Sebastian-"

"No, not lecture. You misunderstand me."

"How?"

"Sebastian has spoken of nothing but you for two years, Abigail. He has always spoken very highly of you." I waited in silence, unsure where he was going with this and I didn't feel like interrupting him. "He has always needed you, even when he thought otherwise. Now that he has you back in his life, I just have something to ask you."

"What?" I whispered, breathlessly, my heart pounding in my chest so loud I was sure Ominis could hear it.

He pressed his fingers to his temple, taking a moment before saying, "Abbi, I'm not going to warn you against seeing Sebastian. Just as I didn't warn him against seeing you. I just need to tell you, to ask you, please, be careful with his heart."

Oh.

Ominis wasn't here to scold me, he wasn't here to berate me for struggling to study only what was necessary for our projects or to stay away from Sebastian all together.

Before me stood a man, asking a girl to be careful with his best friends heart.

"I'm not going to hurt him, Ominis," I whispered. He nodded, thoughtfully and walked over to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Thank you, Abbi. I hope that stays true."

And then I watched as he turned on his heel, pulled open the grated and walked away, leaving me reaching for the shoulder he had just touched, wanting once again to feel the warm and comforting embrace of my friend.