apathywriting

[apathywriting]

Hogwarts Legacy Boys

~ how they learned about the Room of Requirement ~ Part One of Five Ominis Gaunt - warnings: fluff :) 2.2k Sebastian Sallow Leander Prewett Amit Thakkar Garreth Weasley

A/N: this is written from a third person point of view as I find it less jarring than first or second. However, writing for an unnamed character and remaining gender neutral outside of a second person POV is giving me whiplash and doesn’t make for a comfortable reading. For this series, I’m using feminine pronouns (She/Her/Hers) for best readability. If anyone has any suggestions or tips on using gender neutral terms outside of first/second person perspective without naming the character or would like me to post another version with masculine pronouns (He/Him/His), please let me know.

-- Currently, requests/asks are open :) --

“That will be another five points from Slytherin, Mr. Gaunt— and might you try to pay more attention to the order of steps listed on the blackboard in the future.” Professor Sharp's dreary voice droned across the potions classroom. Ominis was looking put out once again as his attempt at Draught of Living Death was still falling short of Sharp’s expectations.

From the other side of the room, she glared at Sharp. While Ominis was horribly depressing at potions, she couldn’t help but think it was due in large part to Sharp’s teaching methods— or lack thereof. Sure, writing the steps out on the blackboard was nice compared to focusing on the tiny font size of their textbook, but he hadn’t done anything more or offered any additional knowledge than what was written. She had long believed Sharp saw his post as a tide over until Professor Hecat retired from Defense Against the Dark Arts (with him being an auror and whatnot). She was disappointed that he could not be bothered to give his potions students a half-hearted education in the meantime. And now poor Ominis, who she knew wanted to study to become a healer, was suffering the consequences. The NEWT in Potions was required for entrance into the Healers Institute for Magical Maladies that fed into St. Mungo’s. As the class shuffled out a quarter of an hour later, she had made up her mind to help Ominis, should he accept it, and fell in step with him leaving the potions corridor, following the trail of students heading to lunch. 

“Ominis.” She greeted him, linking her arm with his free one— the other holding his wand loftily, guiding the way forward through throngs of students stopping to chit chat. 

He raised an eyebrow at her, but did not slow his brisk pace. “If you’re here to pile on, I think I’ve gotten enough flak from Sharp today. I can kiss my dreams of being a healer goodbye.” Ominis sounded positively forlorn, morose at his dwindling prospects due to an abysmal potions grade. 

“Oh don’t be such a blunderbuss Ominis, I was going to offer my help. I adore potions and I can’t stand that Sharp is making you detest such a wonderful part of Magic.” She playfully smacked his shoulder. His face was red as he took her arm and dragged her into an alcove, away from the students meandering the great hall. 

“Are you taking the piss?” He asked her seriously, holding his wand between them, and speaking in a low, husky voice. 

“Ominis— you know I’m not. Listen if you’d rather it be someone else, I’m sure you could ask Hobhouse, he’s decent at portions-“

“I wouldn’t trust Hobhouse to pour water out of a boot with the instructions written on the heel.” 

“Well then, looks like you’re stuck with me- and no I’m not taking the piss. Like I said before-“ she wretched her arm from his grip and readjusted her book bag on her shoulder, “I wish potions could be something you come to enjoy rather than suffer through. Would you please let me help?” She waited as he digested her words. After a minute, he sighed dejectedly and then nodded. 

“Thank you. Meet me on the seventh floor of the Astronomy Tower at seven o’clock- the empty corridor before the classroom.” He gave her a strange look but nodded again. She smiled at him one last time before turning on her heel and rejoining her classmates heading toward the great hall. 

—

Seven o’clock came and she found Ominis waiting for her in the seventh floor corridor, leaning wearily up against the wall, his wand in hand, loose at his side. He was looking a little worn, he had ditched his school robes, his sleeves were rolled up, and his tie was a bit loose. She almost tripped, staring at him. 

“Should I be concerned with this rather inauspicious meeting place?” He asked, noticing her presence. 

“It’s only fair I think— you allowed me into your hideout in fifth year. I may finally be ready to share my hideout this year.” She walked past him, straight down the corridor. He moved to follow, but she waved him back. 

“And where, pray tell, in this empty corridor shall I find your hideout?” He had stopped as instructed, still holding his wand loose, but sounding more intrigued than bored now. 

“Patience, Gaunt.” She drawled, turning on her heel and marching back across the corridor. On her third past, a whirring sound could be heard coming from the walls and a door materialised right in front of Ominis. 

“Woah!” He said, dragging his wand across the air in front of him, taking in the full marvel of the wrought iron doors that hadn’t been there a moment ago. “Has this always been here?”

“Yes and no. It’s a bit complicated.” She grinned at him mischievously and held the door open for him to enter. Landing on a cosy alcove, the room beyond them was full of streaming sunlight- the shadows giving Ominis stunning contrast with his wand. A glass pavilion stood across the great room, a conservatory perhaps, or a greenhouse. It was flanked on either side by curling staircases leading up to a second floor and two more glass enclosures. 

“What is this place?” Ominis asked breathlessly, stumbling into the center of the room. 

“This is the room of requirement - well, rather my room of requirement.” She followed a few steps behind him, wringing her hands together nervously. He was the first person she’d ever invited here, into her sanctuary. Art she had collected from all over the countryside hung on the walls, a Persian carpet from a traveling vendor in Keenbridge covered the floor, and a matching set of floral high back chairs with matching poofs she had just acquired from Craigcroft were nestled in the back corner. It felt— well it felt intimate bringing someone else here. 

Seeing the look of confusion on Ominis’ face, she hurried to explain, “The room of requirement presents itself as needed, as required you could say, depending on the seeker's needs. When I first started in fifth year, I needed a place to practice my magic— a place to grow potion ingredients and practice my brews, and when I started rescuing beasts from poachers,” she gestured to the glass enclosures, pointing out a fourth on the opposite wall that Ominis hadn’t noticed before, “the room created safe spaces for them as well.” 

Ominis turned to look at her in awe, “You mean to say these enclosures” he gestured “are vivariums?” 

She grinned at him, “I do have some Valerian growing in the grassland vivarium, which we’ll need to brew the Draught of living death. If you’re okay with a few beasties saying hello, I thought you could join me?” 

Ominis gaped at her. It took him several moments to compose himself back to the usual stoic, Gaunt demeanor before replying “I would quite enjoy that, yes. Lead the way.” She laughed at him, but took his outstretched hand, hiding a creeping blush at his soft touch, and led him up the staircase and into the grasslands. 

Ominis couldn’t quite grasp how the threshold worked between the room and the vivarium with his wand, but he did note the sudden change in temperature– from cosy and warm to a cool autumn breeze brushing against his skin. He could feel the floor change under his shoes. The warm solid wood floors were gone, replaced with worn cobblestones leading down into a plateau. On one side, a ruined castle sat atop a cliff edge, to the other, a babbling brook ran noisily alongside them. His senses were overwhelmed as his wand expanded his view - beyond the immediate clearing to a small cottage raised on a cliffside across the plateau and a pavilion, benches, and a small burning fire pit next to it. Ominis couldn’t help it, he let out a laugh. He couldn’t begin to fathom how big this vivarium must have been, he was picking up an entire mountain range beyond the cottage and castle ruins.

“Oh look! Jupiter would like to say hello.” Her hand squeezed his. His heart did a backflip– he had never let go of her hand. 

“Who’s Jupit– Ah!” From above them, a bright red, towering bird swooped, landing directly in front of Ominis. “Oh my.” he swallowed the lump in his throat. Jupiter was a Phoenix. “Wherever did you find him?” Ominis asked, breathless. She giggled.

“He found me actually. He had been running from a group of poachers for quite some time I think. When I came along he was more than happy to follow me home. I think he was tired of running and knew he would be safe here.” At her words, Jupiter bowed. “Here,” she pulled out her wand and produced a small, coarse hair brush with it, handing it over to Ominis. Jupiter ruffled his feathers and took a small step closer to Ominis who was now having difficulty breathing, “he likes when you brush right under his beak.” Ominis looked from her to Jupiter and then to the brush in his hand. Jupiter shuffled closer to him again, raising his head expectantly. Ominis gave him a tentative brush which Jupiter immediately leaned into, closing his eyes. “I think he likes you.” 

If Jupiter had his way, Ominis would have stood brushing him all evening, but as it was they were here to work on potions. She was able to lure him away after a bit, levitating pieces of food across the sky; they watched him swooping through the air to pick them up, one by one, before landing on the banks of the creek for a drink. Ominis watched for a moment and the peacefulness of it all. This is how she spent her fifth year? He fought back a wave of jealousy. If he played his cards right, she might share it with him– at the very least he could bargain for more potions tutoring. She couldn’t argue he wasn’t in desperate need of any help he could get. The sound of her laughter pulled him from his thoughts and drew his attention back to the Phoenix. A cat that was much too large to be a cat had come up behind him and was batting at his flight feathers while he drank. He turned, looking  incredulously to her, “That’s Athena, she’s a kneazle. They’re best friends, really- she just likes to play. She was just skin and bones when I found her caged up at an abandoned campsite. Poor thing didn’t have an inch of fur or whisker left then, but look at her now!” Ominis watched as Jupiter beat his wings a few times, making the kneazle’s ears go back but did little to discourage the tail batting. 

“She’s beautiful.” Ominis was once again fighting a lump in his throat, suddenly realising for a second time that her hand was still in his. 

“Come on-” She was smiling again, he could hear it in her voice. She dragged him down the path, towards the cottage. Ominis could feel the warm sunset on his face as she brought him to a small garden patch between the cottage and the pavilion. Valerian flowers bloomed alongside muggle plants he didn’t recognise. 

Ominis could hear his mother’s shrill voice in his head as they dug up the plant’s roots for harvesting. She would have been displeased  if she saw him digging into the dirt with his bare hands wearing a white dress shirt and she would have been murderous if she saw him harvesting potion ingredients like a muggle, his wand forgotten in his pocket, relying on his sense of touch and her guidance in pruning. She talked while they worked, explaining the different muggle plants dotted throughout her little garden. There was St. John’s Wort, a collective of small yellow flowers the muggles used to treat hysteria, Lavender, which was said to have a calming scent and, Echinacea from the Americas, which was believed to help settle the stomach. He noticed a white flower off to the side she hadn’t addressed and asked about it, “What about these over here? Are these used in muggle healing?” He asked seriously, eyeing the slight drooping of petals. 

“Not exactly– these are tulips. They don’t really do anything healing wise, but they’re my favourite flower, so I like to have a few in my garden.” She was blushing again, caressing the petal of one of her tulips.

”What colour are they?” He asked and she was relieved to hear a tone of curiosity rather than ridicule.

”They're white. They grow in Holland, but they usually plant bright colors, yellows, pinks and reds, oranges— I don’t know why, but I’ve always preferred the white.” She hesitated watching him, waving his wand over them in interest. “In any matter, they will not benefit your potions skills. We best head back.” 

They walked arm in arm leaving the vivarium, holding a decent collection of valerian roots between the two of them. Ominis was sad to leave— the vivarium was warm and welcoming. Her cottage with her little garden surrounded by mountains and beasts felt like something out of a fairy tale.

“Don’t look so sad Ominis, you’re welcome to come back and visit Jupiter to your heart’s content.” He could hear the smile in her voice as she guided him over the threshold, back to the warm, quiet room of requirement.

[apathywriting]

Hogwarts Legacy Boys

- how you two got together -

Ominis Gaunt

After a cold introduction outside the Undercroft, you and Ominis grow closer, fostering a shaky friendship over the shared endeavor of keeping Sebastian out of Azkaban (which is decidedly harder than it looks). Ominis realises his excitement over a new friend is something more in sixth year when the two of you are paired up in Sharp’s class working on brewing Amortentia. You are so gentle and patient with him and his lacking potion skills. You tutor him in potions, and although he tried as hard as he can, he’s disappointed when he can’t smell anything once it’s finished.

He does notice your perfume is a bit strong that day. He’s never quite been able to put his finger on the scent- both fruity and floral, some tantalising exotic orange with sweet and floral notes of vanilla. Imagine his surprise when Professor Sharp had commended the two of them on a perfect brew. With a creeping blush, he asks you what you smelled as the class packs to leave. You hesitate for a moment, shoving your potions book into your bag “pine trees and mint”.

You had left in a hurry after that. He had been too wrapped up in his own realisation to question why you left in such a hurry, pushing his own book into his bag, rattling against his jar of shoe polish and tin of hard peppermint candies. He was halfway down the corridor before his brain caught up with him and he tore off after you.

Sebastian Sallow

Sebastian knew he had a strong affliction for you after your first meeting— knocking him on his ass when you dueled in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The year following had only reenforced that idea. You followed him through thick and thin, and pulled him back from the edge when he had went too far. Sixth year had been busy with exams and it felt as if every person in the castle needed your attention- pulling you away from him.

Amit needed help mapping an uncharted constellation, Poppy needed your help with a brood of Giant Purple Toads, Natsai stole you away tracking a dark wizard camp into Romania, Garreth had begged you for assistance locating rare Pheonix feathers he needed for some new potion idea; even Ominis needed your attention on your joint charms project that was snowing both of you in. Every time he pulled you away for a few moments- under guise of studying or looking into some artifact Professor Hecat had brought in, the two of you had been interrupted and he had watched you be whisked off by some well meaning friend requiring your assistance.

He made it through first term before he’d had enough— grabbing your hand and dragging you from History of Magic class when Binns’ back was turned. He had shushed your protests, shoving you into the nearest broom cupboard following your abscondance. You had stumbled in, hand landing on his chest, pulled tight against him in the cramped space. He didn’t need to be an occulmens to see what you were thinking based on how you reacted to his touch- plans were set for the Yule Ball, and a promise was made that you would take him with you on your next adventure.

Leander Prewett

Leander had never been a sore loser before he met you— he had never been a loser at all. He prided himself on his wand work and his class work, top of his year in Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts (the latter likely only due to Sebastian’s penchant for rule breaking), he had been positively miffed when you defeated him in crossed wands. He had been less surprised but no less hurt when you repeated victory in summoner’s court.

Watching you do magic was no different than watching an artist at work. It was under this pretense he had requested tutoring from you in his worst subject- Divination. While he didn’t put much stock in the subject originally, a NEWT in Divination and work in short term precognition would put him over the top in his application for an apprenticeship at Gringotts following his final year at Hogwarts. Your patience with him and dedication to spending your evenings in a stuffy, unused classroom pouring over aged textbooks and drinking earl grey by the bucket full to practice reading tea leaves quickly turned into stolen glances and light caresses when exchanging materials.

It was one of these late nights, your cramped study space filled with tea steam, when passing you a cup of tea- your hands brushed and instead of looking away as he usually would, Leander looked at you and the blush creeping up your cheeks. The next time the two of you had tea, it was at Madame Puddlefoots, and Leander swore he would never take his eyes off you again.

Amit Thakkar

Amit was never shy or disingenuous with how he felt about you. He had complimented your intellect during a shared assignment in Astronomy and you had blushed, giggling at his forwardness. You had continued to work together, Amit becoming more and more awestruck by your brain. Your trip into the goblin mine had been overwhelming- it wasn’t for another day afterward he had recalled how impressed you had been that he could read Gobbledegook.

His face had been tinged pink for an hour afterwards. It took him awhile to find the courage to confirm mutual feelings, you were always being followed around by your “Slytherin henchmen” as Garreth had put it. Eventually, he was able to corner you after class, and the two of you shared a midnight picnic under the moonlight, mapping the constellations and theorising on Centaur star divination.

Garreth Weasley

You and Garreth had become fast friends after you convinced him against stealing from Professor Sharp in favor of you sourcing him a dozen Fwooper feathers from a den you had found not far from a poacher camp west of Keenbridge. It had been an easy trade for him- and opened up a new market for hard to find potion ingredients. He loved your easy smile, your love of adventure, and your never ending kindness toward man and beast alike.

He fell fast and hard, but was disuaged by your Slytherin henchman, following you around Hogwarts and capitalising on your time. You were away from the castle more time than not these days— although you had kept your word on sourcing nifler fur, Garreth just hadn’t expected for it to arrive via your owl with a short note.

stuck clearing out a spider infestation in Aranshire but I still want to know all about your new potion xxx

Garreth had never been a fan of spiders, but he was definitely a fan of yours and borrowed a school broom to go meet you out in Aranshire. What followed was a decent amount of blasting and small brush fires as the two of you battled arachnids out of the small hamlet. Garreth only managed to get tangled up in cobwebs twice, much to his chagrin and your amusement.

As the two of you sat in the aftermath, splitting a slightly squashed pumpkin pasty and picking pieces of cobwebs out of each other hair and clothes, Garreth confessed he had no immediate need for spider fangs or venom as was his initial reason for joining you, but rather had wanted to help and wanted to spend time with you without your cronies. You had laughed at that— the idea of Sebastian dressed up in a black hat and billowing coat like a muggle highwayman was downright comical.

You confessed you had also wished to spend more time with Garreth, but worried about detracting from his potions work (and on a lesser note, classwork). Sensing a chance and disavowing any chance for you to slip him by, Garreth kissed you - cobwebs and pumpkin pastry lips be damned.