Chapter 17 Excerpt
Ink and Shadow
Raven slipped into her usual seat, the classroom already humming with low morning chatter. Students murmured sleepily to one another, some finishing the last bites of toast theyād smuggled from breakfast, others flipping open textbooks with resigned sighs. A few had already given up entirely, bunching their dress robes into makeshift pillows in preparation for the inevitable.
She set down her books and inhaled slowly, praying the Earl Grey would finally kick in and drag her fully into consciousness.
Ominis tilted his head toward her, wand gliding over the embossed cover of his textbook. āMorning.ā
She stretched, rubbing the last traces of sleep from her eyes. āGood morning,ā she murmured, however the words drifted out with a faint, unintentional lilt, almost sung more than spoken.
Ominis paused, tilting his head slightly and raising an eyebrow, āā¦was that a pitch?ā
āWhat? No. Iām just tired.ā Shit.
āMm,ā he hummed unconvinced.
Before either could say more, Professor Binns drifted straight through the blackboard, chalk dust blooming like a cloud around him. Conversations died instantly. Robe-pillows were adjusted. Someone groaned quietly.
Binns launched into his lecture, his monotone droning about the Goblin Rebellions with all the enthusiasm of a dying candle. Within minutes, half the class was slumped over their desks. A Hufflepuff two rows up snored softly.
Raven tried to focus, scribbling music notes in her journal. It lasted perhaps a minute before something nudged her elbow. She glanced at Ominis, whose expression looked perfectly neutral, tapped at a piece of folded parchment next to her. Even though she wasnāt worried the professor would notice, she still unfolded it beneath the desk.
So, when am I helping you and Sebastian register for your household charms?
Ravenās breath caught and felt her face go hot. Wide eyed, she stared at Ominis, who had the biggest smirk curling around his mouth.
Sebastian mustāve told him, she thought. Hell, he probably already figured it out himself.
She tried to think of something witty to write back, however, Binnsā voice was already dissolving into background noise making her eyelids heavy. But then her mind crept somewhere warmer.
Suddenly she wasnāt in History of Magic at all.
The image wasnāt sharp, more like a memory she hadnāt lived yet, but the feeling of it made her chest tighten. She saw Professor Fig at her side, their arms linked walking down an aisle. Not some grand cathedralā¦ just a quiet, sun-lit path lined with faces she trusted.
Just the thought of having someone to give her away, someone who cared enough to stand beside her in a moment like that, hit her harder than the vision itself. Fig wasnāt her father. But in that hazy-formed glimpse of a future, he was the one steady presence she could imagine offering her hand to someone sheā¦ loved. Oh, stop, she thought, feeling her cheeks warm.
Then the vision deepened. A white, simple lace dress, with no blasted corset digging into her ribs. A veil trailing behind her. A bouquet trembling slightly in her hands, though she couldnāt tell if it was nerves or anticipation.
And at the end of the aisleā¦ stood Sebastian patiently waiting. His curls tamed (mostly), his smile soft in a way he never showed anyone else. His eyes never left hers, not even to blink. He reached out a hand, and her heart thudded so hard she felt it in her throat.
What were wizarding weddings even like? Did it matter? The feeling was the same, terrifying and beautiful. She blinked hard, shoving the image away before it could root itself any deeper. Thank goodness Ominis couldnāt see the color blooming across her face.
Her fountain pen trembled slightly trying to take notes, though the fantasy shattered completely when Professor Binns abruptly shifted tone, well, as much as a ghost could.
āClassā¦ we will now relocate to the Entrance Hall to examine the historical displays relevant to your essays. Please remain with your assigned desk partners.ā
Chairs scraped. Students groaned. Someone muttered, āThank Merlin.ā
Raven and Ominis gathered their things and headed out with the rest of the class. The Entrance Hall was bright and echoing. Too bright, Raven squinted from the glare. They moved from display to display, Ominis listening intently as she read aloud the descriptions about a Goblin Artefact,
āā¦the horn was used during the 1612 Goblin Rebellion, to rally troops and annoy witches and wizardsāā Just then a rush of wings swept overhead. And an owl landed neatly next to them, holding a sealed letter with Professor Figās wax stamp. Quickly, Raven opened it,
The Third Trial is ready. Please meet me in the Map Chamber during lunch. And yes, Mr. Sallow may accompany you. - E. Fig
Her heart thudded once, hard. āBout goddamn time, she thought.
šLinks to Traces of Lilacs are found in my bioš
