ִֶָRaven

His eyebrows shot up in surprise, before he fixed his expression back to one of strict neutrality.

 “A century, you say? How in Merlin’s name did that happen?”

Lucy shrugged. “Don’t ask me! I am just as confused as you are. Do you remember any of what happened before you arrived here?” 

Ominis began to pace before bumping into her bed, and she just gently patted on it encouraging him to sit, which he did, very stiffly as his hands wrung his wand.

“I was talking with Sebastian and Hanno. We were about to have tea, and Hanno’s niffler had crawled into my lap. She made some joke about the niffler wanting to steal me away from her like shiny treasure, and that she was sure the nifflers weren’t the only ones who wanted to steal me away from her.” He closed his eyes, brow furrowing. “And then I was here, in your room.” 

“Curious and curiouser.” she hummed, now perched on the bed next to him. 

“Umm…what are you doing?” Ominis asked, shifting away awkwardly as her hands reached out to touch his face. “That is highly inappropriate. It already is scandalous enough being in your sleeping quarters.” His ears burned bright pink, as he stood, straightening his tie nervously. 

“I’m so sorry!” Lucy stammered. “It’s just…you’re so pretty!” She scrambled to her feet, all the original nervousness gone. She continued to stare at him, and how the light made his eyes sparkle like the star sapphires all the Ominis Gaunt fans happened to compare them too. 

“I am not…pretty.” Ominis protested, ears turning red as the flush continued to move across his face. “I have been told that my looks are significantly appealing, however I only accept being called…that word by my girlfriend alone. Who I would very much like to return to, thank you.” 

“Uhh right. That might prove to be a lot harder than you think.” Lucy said, biting her lip as she thought hard on how to get a wizard of all things back to the 18th century and explain to her parents why she had a boy in her room that they had never met before. He’d need a new name-

“What do you mean? Are you not capable of using whatever summoning spell called me here to send me back? I am assuming correctly that it was you who brought me here, am I not?” 

A heavy sigh left her lips, and she turned back to him, chewing on the end of her stylus. 

“The only kind of magic wand I have is this drawing utensil. I’m…what you would call a muggle. If I did cast some kind of spell it was not intentional I promise. I guess I was just thinking about you, and how it would be nice if you were real and here and-”

“Real?” Ominis said sharply. “I am very real.” 

Lucy laughed nervously. “I have bad news for you then. Technically you are a game character. Unless the game is somehow built around actual events and there's some kind of multiverse and the Harry Potter books are real, which would be absolutely insane!!”

Ominis frowned, confused. “What are you blabbering on about? A game? Like…chess? And who is Harry Potter?” 

“Lets just start with getting you some different clothes okay? And hiding you from my parents.”

Lucy was in for a long few days that was sure. Even though this was the best birthday gift ever.

~~~

It had been a week, and Ominis was not very happy with having to hide in the closet every time her parents made an appearance. He had tried to convince her to let him meet them, but she just started rambling and he would have to calm her down. Oddly she reminded him a lot of Hanno, which only made his heart ache more for home, and the safety of her arms. 

However, it wasn’t entirely terrible. The food she snuck to him was delicious and he feared he would soon be addicted to the sweet, sticky, nutty dough she called a “Chimney Cake.” He found himself thinking of how if  Hanno was here, she would burn her tongue in her rush to try it. 

In the mornings he would be awoken by a screaming sound she called a phone alarm and then stuffed in the closet until he was certain the house was empty enough to venture out. Then slip into the washroom, where he would freshen up. She had kindly explained how the shower worked as it was much different than he remembered, and insisted he use this minty paste to clean his teeth with a tiny brush. This new century was definitely a lot better with hygiene. But it smelled a lot more of chemicals and strong scents which stung his nose. Still, it was acceptable. 

Then he would slip into the kitchen, and feel around for anything that was left behind. Because of his perfectionism nothing was out of place enough that any one noticed. His wand worked enough to show him around as well. Which had left the girl dumbfounded and rambling all of the first night about multiverses and how she had to tell all her “online” friends about it. 

Strange girl.

He smiled to himself at the thought, reaching down to stroke the cat that curled around his legs purring. Maszat, he had been informed. Named for the little smudge said to be on her nose. Out of this whole experience he deemed he liked the cat and chimney cake the most. They were the most simple to understand, and the least stressful. If he focused hard enough he could filter out the whirring of all the odd machines, the loud noises outside that made him jump every time a siren went by, or someone honked their horn. Just focus on the soft ball of fur sitting in his lap.

“Why is everything so loud, hmm sweet kitty?” He found himself asking her as if she could answer. “I am sure it is hard on your ears too,” he cooed, rubbing circles between them gently.

 Did they ever rest? Take a moment to enjoy the silence? 

He had asked Lucy that one night as she lay on her stomach, distracted by what she called a phone, an odd rectangular box that sound came out of and she used to communicate with. 

“Are people really happy with so much distraction? What about the things that really matter?” 

Things like the family and friends around you. The fresh air, a good book, the peace of silence.

“I…I don’t know. I guess we've grown used to the chaos. But I admit, always needing more, it is pretty stressful. I love my online friends but it is really hard to keep up with them sometimes. 

“Don’t try to do too much at once Lu, they’ll still be there.” And she let him take her phone and they talked long into the night instead, and when she fell asleep on his lap, he let her stay there. 

~~~

Lucy tried to make Ominis’s days better. She taught him about her country's history, communism, the wars, and when he managed to sneak her out at night she took him to some of Hungary’s most popular sites. She taught him about screen readers, and audio books. He really liked listening to the audio books about history, but refused to learn anything about his homeland, not wanting to know if he was ever going back. He said “It will come when it comes.”

But he still seemed very sad. It was in his eyes, even behind the small laughs and smirks he would occasionally offer her at a  ridiculous joke, or the “nonsense” that was modern slang. He didn’t entirely fit in her fathers clothes either, and had insisted on sleeping on her floor. 

Despite it being a nest of blankets, and her awkward tailoring, it would never be his real home. 

It hurt, of course it did. For she wanted him to be happy with her. He made her feel the most alive than she had felt in her short life. He challenged her beliefs on consumerism, on truly living. Nights had become her favorites because they would walk under the stars, visit small cafes, little bookstores, and she would explain to him how everything looked and realize how much she herself had truly been missing or taking for granted. Like the taste of Chimney Cake.

Ominis needed to go home. And it was up to her.

 No more late night secret cry sessions to Scott Street listening to him sniffle in the dark.  

Not on her watch.

 She was done being selfish. Hanno would not be pleased, and she wanted more than anything to make the good parts of her proud, the parts that valued selfless love. Besides, she was sure her girl was missing her boyfriend and Sebastian was spiraling. Couldn’t have that happen 

To the drawing board it was, aka tablet.

 Plus ask all the Discord people that were actually going a bit insane because she had the real Ominis Gaunt living in her bedroom. Yeah, perhaps some needed help, particularly Raven who was in literal tears because of the delicious angst this was. But they did have some good ideas. 

Raven / 10 pm: Perhaps you could draw or write him back? Kind of like how you inadvertently wished him here, but write or draw it as Hanno doing some kind of art of him while thinking of him coming back. It would be really sweet, and a tearful fluffy reunion.

~~~

“Okay one last ingredient and then…” Hanno choked on her words. She’d tried everything the last two weeks to bring him back to her while trying to keep Sebastian from messing with dark magic to find some answer to his best friend’s sudden disappearance. Ominis was the steady to the both of them and without him around things had been spiraling a lot faster than she thought.

“Come on Cavendish, you have to eat something.” Sebastian sighed, taking her hand and pressing an apple into it. Not like he was much better with the dark circles under his eyes and how much he stunk. Seriously, did boys not shower when they missed someone? Ewww!

“I can’t eat when Ominis is Merlin knows where. I’d follow him to death, and I know he’s not dead, so I am going to find him no matter what. I just…” tears leaked down her face. 

I can’t lose anyone else. 

“I know but would Ominis approve of you not eating just because of him?”

“....No..” 

“Then eat the bloody apple.” 

She stuck her tongue out at him but begrudgingly took a bite of the apple anyways. 

Gosh, it was good. 

Just as Hanno turned back to face the potions table a flash of light from inside the vivarium made her shield her eyes. It was still glowing brightly, and after exchanging a look with Seb, they moved closer. There was something or someone emerging from the light. 

Someone very tall, very sharp, very…

“OMINIS!!”

Without a second thought she charged into the light into his arms, making him laugh with joy, before spinning her around. When they stopped he swooped down and stole her lips in the sweetest most passionate kiss, before pulling away and resting their foreheads together. 

“I missed you Hana.” He whispers, hands busying themselves with making sure she was real. 

“I missed you too Omi. Where were you?” 

“Away from you, where I never want to be again. A loud, smelly,-” 

“Like Sebastian?”

“Hey! I am not smelly!” Sebastian protested somewhere behind them. 

Ominis threw back his head in a loud sharp laugh. “Exactly like Sebastian. He’d probably like it.” 

His hand went up to cup her cheek, bringing their faces together again.

 “A world without you is no world Hanaliese. But there is one with a sweet girl named Lucy, who oddly reminds me a lot of you. We owe her our thanks to be back together.” 

He turned to face the portal of light again, where Hanno could make out the shape of a girl shyly waving. Ominis smiled fondly as the light suddenly disappeared, taking the girl away. 

“She may be no witch, but she is…what they would call a wizard with a pen.” 

Sebastian came up behind them and clapped him across the back, making Ominis flinch. 

“The only wizard I’m interested in right now is the one who owes me for keeping his girlfriend alive. 

Ominis took a whiff of the air and grimaced. “The only thing you should be interested in Sebastian is a shower, and a long one at that. Did you fall in a swamp or something?” 

All was well in the world of Hogwarts Legacy Lucy’s characters called home, banter and love. 

~~~

Back at home, once the barrier that had allowed her to peer into the real world of her imagination, Lucy scooped up Maszat and curled up on her bed and had a good long cry. 

It wasn’t all bad tears though. Because before he left Ominis had promised to never to forget her, and gave her a kiss on the forehead. She may have also snagged his scarf too that she was never washing, for it smelled like mossy dungeons, mint, and bergamot. Like him. 

All good stories must come to an end, but stories remind us of what we value in life. 

Birthdays with those we love. Friends and family that support us even though they don’t always know what is wrong. Delicious food, fresh air and good long naps. Things chaos tries to steal. 

Stories remind us of people we look up to, especially our favorite characters. Ones with morals, loyalty, kindness, patience, intelligence, and fighting off the darkness we all have inside. 

Ominis may just be a story, but he is part of hers.

An artist, a light, a loyal friend.

Lucy. 

cue "ceilings"

Hope you like it!! And that it doesn't make you cry too much. I had so much fun with this idea and thought it would a good birthday gift.

I love you! Keep shining, keep dreaming, keep creating!

Every day they had bloomed so prettily for you, waiting for you to notice them as you went by. Perhaps one day you would choose them to show off on your counter. Enjoy their smell, their beauty, and their company as they brought life and color to your days. But you preferred the fast action, the quick buys. It didn’t matter if the flowers you bought ended up in a garbage can. As long as they served their purpose to get you what you wanted, it didn’t really matter. 

Yes, the flowers died on Monday. But you didn’t notice they were dead until the next one. 

Wilted in the grass, precious petals blown away by the wind, stripping the tender stem bare. A more tender soul might have cried at the picture they painted. But you ripped them up. 

The flowers died on Monday. 

You  blamed them for the stench that now fills your yard, cursing about rotting detritus. 

You blame them for how barren your garden looks without them stealing attention from the weeds. For how your heart aches at the fact something in your life was once full of true life. 

The weeds keep growing, the yard fades. Yet you can’t bear to plant anything in their stead. 

Those flowers were all you had left of her. Beautiful roses she had planted for you as you promised her you’d send her a picture as soon as they bloomed, in your thanks to her. 

Relationships are like a flower.

 A rose needs nurturing. 

A heart does too. 

Not being forgotten.

Neglected.  

Taken for granted. 

It wasn’t just the flowers that died on Monday.