#Marvolo is getting worse each time we se him <3 As he should. It's his right

[teddyniffler]

In the Shadows of Friendship Forever

Chapter 28: Gaunts and Weasleys

From the very second the Hogwarts Express reached the train station earlier that day, Ominis knew he was dead. He had picked up his trunk and felt his way off the train along with everybody else, using their voices to guide him. Only when he had two feet and his trunk safety on the ground did he feel a hand gripping the back of his neck suddenly, fingers digging in, gripping the back of his hair to pull his head back. “Whoa-who!?” Ominis reacted in shock, his hand reaching back to feel a hand with a large ring upon the back of his neck. “Home” A furious word snapped. “Father-what is? Father?” Ominis couldn’t even think. His mouth had gone dry. All around him came mutterings as his father led him by his neck through the crowd. Something had angered his father so much he was showing violence to his son in public. All around him, voices whispered, in his heightened panic, he could hear them even over the train still pumping steam. “Did you see that?” “Oh my…” “Is that Gaunt?” “Shh.” “Poor kid.” “Ooh the Gaunts are having trouble with their youngest again. Even such a fine house isn’t safe from mudblood and blood traitor ideologies.” They had arrived at the front of the queue to the Floo Network, no doubt ignoring the line as normal to reach the grate first. “Father?” Ominis tried “What’s wrong? Why are you doing this?” “We shall talk, and I mean we will talk, when you get home.”

“You know where I am going.” His father instructed the statue of Ignatia Wildsmith and a second later Ominis was marched through the flames. His trunk no doubt following them at the hands of a silent house elf. The poor thing was likely terrified, Ominis knew how it felt. They came out into the Gaunt’s hut, from here Ominis was escorted up the hill at a fast speed. He was disorientated from the speed his father was dragging him up the hill. Inside his chest, his heart pounded. Was this over his failed attempt with manipulating Black? Ominis had heard the many different conversations that had sprung up around his headmaster’s recent beaten state. He knew it was likely at the hands of his father as a result of the attack on Ominis, but would his father really be angry with him over that? As much as Ominis knew, his father and Black were friends, but his father viewed the Blacks as lower than them. He struggled to keep his fear down, running his mind over what he could have possible done to anger his father.

They entered the House of Gaunt and Ominis was taken to the drawing room and pushed down into a chair. “Where is Sebastian Sallow, Ominis?” came his father’s voice. There were footsteps in the room too, they weren’t alone. Out of sight of Ominis, Marvolo had come in to watch the interrogation. The wild shine in his eyes only heightened more by the fire as he watched the scene unfold in front of him. If his father needed help with the Cruciatus Curse again, he would be more than happy to offer his assistance.

“Sebastian? I don’t know father.” Ominis said. ”He was at St Mungos, but he got out, that’s what the papers said” “I used many of my resources and my own time getting your precious friend out of Azkaban, he would still be rotting in there without this family. Your lowlife, kin-killing half breed piece of trash is only free because I got him out for you.” Mr Gaunt placed emphasis upon I and you. Ominis held his head up, although his every nerve was screaming at him to hide. “Imagine my concern, as a father, when the sick boy wasn’t in his bed where he should have been. Imagine my wonder when his twin sister came into the room and ran when she saw me. Why did she run for? Am I not the concerned father who helped get her brother out? Why did she run? Have you and her been planning on removing the Sallow boy from his place of care behind my back? Only guilty people flee, Ominis. Shiva says there was a woman with the Sallows, sadly she couldn’t describe the lady and she didn’t know her. Who is she? Who have you and that Sallow girl been conspiring with? I do not appreciate my hard work to clean up loose ends, all my efforts going to waist. He was safe enough in St Mungos, as long as he shut up, to whom have you offloaded him too now? Tell me and I shall spare them, as long as they know who they answer too.” Ominis took a deep breath. “I do not know father, I do not know. The only thing I do know is my friend is missing. I have not spoken to Sebastian yet, he has been unwell and I’ve been at school.” Ominis said in what he hoped was a level voice without any shakes “Well, we shall see if you are telling the truth.” His father said, Ominis felt movement in the air and flinched as his father raised his wand. Behind, Marvolo’s face lit up in excitement.

“Imperio” Came his father’s voice, suddenly Ominis stopped thinking. He was sitting in the chair in the most dangerous home any wizard could step foot in and right now everything was blissful. It was no longer important or concerning his furious father was holding a wand at him. Nothing mattered anymore. It was just bliss. He wanted this feeling to never end. “Where is Sebastian Sallow?” Came his father’s voice. “Tell me everything you know.” Ominis was only too happy to comply. “Sebastian was at St Mungos.” Ominis answered flatly, from far away. “He’s missing now. Nobody knows where he is. At school they think I’m hiding him somewhere, but I haven’t seen Sebastian anywhere at Hogwarts myself, so I believe that’s just a rumour.” Mr Gaunt glanced at Marvolo, who shot Ominis a dry look. “Somebody was careful not to tell him anything.” Marvolo guessed, looking Ominis up and down. “They know he can’t really be trusted, it’s what they are like out there, think they are better than us.” “It’s useless.” Gaunt agreed. The blissful feeling left Ominis and he blinked in shock, suddenly feeling a rush of thoughts coming back. He swallowed hard as the panic returned in full. “If you do you hear anything at all, you are to tell me right away, do you understand?” Mr Gaunt asked. “And Ominis, if I find you have concealed anything at all from me. Anything, no matter how small, I will make sure you regret it, but not as much as that boy. Free he may be from the Dementors, he is a marked man among the Gaunts, that sister of his too.” Ominis nodded. “May I go?” He asked shakily.

“Not yet.” His father said “Marvolo is here, he wanted to see if you were okay after your headmaster’s vulgar attack on you. You will be pleased to know Phineas now would never dream of touching a single hair upon your head again. Share your gratitude with your brother Ominis, he did a spectacular job. You should have heard the pleading Black did when he thought he was going to die. He will never hurt you again.” “Thank you” Ominis said quietly. He was feeling pure revulsion by their words. “Has his nose been uncrushed yet?” Marvolo laughed. “I think I broke it beyond magical means of repair.” “I don’t know, I can’t see, but I don’t think so from what others have said.” Ominis answered honest, making Marvolo laugh more. “Very well.” Mr Gaunt said. “Ominis, you can go now, remember what we spoke about here. Tomorrow your Betrothed is coming, it is time we begin wedding planning. You can get to know her more.” There was a small thud in the room and Marvolo yelped suddenly. “You will show your cousin the respect she deserves, she is a Gaunt just as much as you, don’t let me catch you doing that again.” Came his father’s voice, his anger now directed at his older son. Ominis didn’t know what Marvolo had just done, but it had taken their father’s attention off Ominis, who quietly slipped out of the room.

“White is a beautiful colour, it will confirm her superior breeding, however green is preferred among our kind for pure blood statues, but gold will bring out the tones of her hair. She is as fair as a diamond when the sun shines upon her.-“ Next to Ominis on the settee, Marvolo give a tiny snort nobody else heard but him as their aunt and uncle talked about their daughter’s apparent beauty. “- We want the other pure blood families to see we are the standard for quality breeding-“ Marvolo give Ominis’ arm a slight nudge. “- And that they shouldn’t allow Muggle filth to taint their own bloodlines.” They were on the 4th cup of tea and Ominis was sitting in the lounge with his family all around him. His intended wife had issued a begrudging ‘Hello’ to him when she walked in and had proceeded to so far ignore him for the rest of the visit, he could not even pin point where she was sitting, as she had so far not spoken again. Marvolo had been sitting next to him and for the last two hours, he had snorted, nudged and shuddered slightly with silent laughter without anybody noticing as the fine details of Ominis’ wedding day – and to Ominis’ horror – realistic time frames of their wedding consummation and confirmation of children were brokered out before him, with him and his cousin Maelia having no input themselves. He was horrified something so personal and private was being talked about so open. He could imagine himself blushing a bright pink, he wondered if Maelia felt the same. Somehow he thought it unlikely, she believed in their family ways, she would sit dutiful as her parents arranged her entire life, if it meant the Gaunt lines would continue as intended. They had generously been giving the traditional seven months from the wedding night to confirm their coupling with confirmation of a baby. If Ominis had a cup of tea in his hand, he would have dropped it in his horror, Marvolo was now shaking hard with barely concealed laughter. He kept reminding himself that he would not go through with it, he would find a way to run again, he had no intention of marrying his cousin.

“And what of you Marvolo?” Their uncle had asked. “Your father tells me your role at the ministry is going well, I see you as our country’s future leader, but is there anybody special in your life?” “I may know of a young, very sweetening, young lady.”Marvolo said, only Ominis picked up the significance of the word ‘sweetening’ and knew it meant Poppy, he felt his blood growing cold. “Pure blood of course, I checked. I may be seeing her soon, in the next fortnight. It is early days, I want to be sure she is the one before I present her to mother and father, and before I met her family, of course. She is one of the many Pinch-Smedley, I believe the Wessex branch.” “A good family, Slytherins too most of them, although the Durham Pinch-Smedley would be a better choice, closer.” Said their auntie. Ominis knew Marvolo was lying, he had not been anywhere near the Pinch-Smedleys, he was talking about Poppy just to wind Ominis up. “I thought you were wanting to date a Half-blood?” Ominis said suddenly, taking the bait in his heightened state “You met her during a recent trip to Hogsmeade, she’s still at school too, a little young for you, Marvolo?” The effect this had on in the people gathered in the room was instantaneous.

“How dare you!” Marvolo cried out. “Lies! That’s disgraceful of you brother.” “I daresay that is not true, Ominis.” Came Maelia’s voice at last, as disapproving as always. “Your brother would never date anybody of lower blood statues.” “Ominis!” Came his mother’s voice “-About to marry and yet, so immature.” That was their uncle’s voice. “Ominis, if you speak such vile untruths again, about any Gaunt, and I will take your tongue to match your eyes.” His father said, quieting the room. He didn’t need to raise his voice to bring attention back to himself, his very nature did that. “Never insult the Gaunt family like that again.” “Go to your room. We shall finish planning your wedding without you present.”

Ominis sat in his room, his heart pounding again as the stupidity of his words crept upon him, they had just escaped from him. After hours of tolerating the most embarrassing conversation from his family, he couldn’t stand to hear Marvolo being praised after his brother had spent the whole thing quietly laughing at Ominis. Had he overstepped the mark? Hour after hour passed, Snakey sensed his unease, Ominis could hear the slight shuffle of his scales moving over the covers as he lifted his noise into the air to sniff. The snake had been given clear instructions to remain as hidden as possible within the Gaunt house. Ominis had been sure Mori had been sniffing around near his door the first night of the Easter holidays, he had sat up in bed, hearing what sounded like a large heavy bodied snake dancing up and down the door as he sheltered Snakey in his hands. It could have been Geer, but the ancient snake rarely moved from the staircase, it was likely Mori. Now Ominis sat, upon the same bed, listening to the hall outside his bedroom for his own safety. His mother and father had no objections to hurting him, Marvolo would love nothing more than to hurt him. Nobody came. Hours later, Ominis was still sitting, waiting for any attack that thankfully never came. It was only then he fell into an uneasy sleep. The rest of Easter passed without incident. Ominis had been informed at dinner the next day – as his parents had been ignoring him for a few hours after he has insulted Marvolo’s ‘honour’– that he would be wearing dark silver robes on his wedding day, with his cousin wearing white and he should remember the importance of continuing this family, so he should be a father himself within the next two years and anticipating a second shortly after. “If dear cousin has a girl, you should go to her that same night and try again. Only the moment you have a son should you relax, and then you will need a spare. Knowing your genes, you may only have females. They are pointless.” Marvolo said to him as Ominis felt around his plate with a fork. “No Gaunt is pointless Marvolo, females just don’t carry the Gaunt name should they marry, hence why we marry within the family. However, Marvolo is right Ominis that you need sons. More than one.” His mother’s voice came from down the table. “With Noctua dead, there was nobody for your uncle to marry, so my sister had to marry her own brother. We need males in this family and females.”

Ominis felt his skin crawl as if a million microscopic Bowtruckles were climbing him, how could his family talk about inbreeding so casually? It always creeped him out to no end.

He blocked out their words and once again, a girl with hair the apparent colour of a chocolate frog came into his mind. Brown was meant to be warm, brown was like being wrapped in a blanket. The sweetest flowery smell, the softest touches on his skin. It was a colour linked to chocolate and to the earth that grew food. Her eyes apparently matched, with little brown dots across her checks. She was imaginary, she didn’t really exist, only in his head. He didn’t really know what she looked like. He tried to clear her too from his mind. She was off limits, like a sister to him. She was sick and would die. She- Was Anne Sallow. “You look like you’re going to cry” Came Marvolo’s voice. “What’s could possibly be wrong with you?” “I’m not.” Ominis snapped. “Just because I am blind it doesn’t mean my eyes don’t get irritated, it’s spring. They itch and water.” “Hahaha, you’ve got a Muggle ailment!” Marvolo laughed. Finally, Ominis could return to Hogwarts. The two weeks had dragged by, with very little talk over than the wedding planned for next year. Ominis still had no intention of going through with it, but he still had no real concrete plan in motion on getting out of it. He was determined though, he would cut himself off from this cursed family, a life hiding out in a tiny hamlet in the Scottish highlands, farming his own food was preferred to living in luxury but living as a breeding machine for that family. It’s all they saw him as, useless, of no great use other than continuing the Gaunt line. Now sitting on the Hogwarts Express once more, Snakey nested in his cupped hand which he held to his face, he could feel the little snake touching his hair. He never intended for Snakey to soothe him, but something about the coolness of his scales was comforting.

“Your parents were used repeatedly, weren’t they, because you all had magical qualities?” Ominis asked him. “Until they made you and your siblings. Then you were all sold to make money. That’s my parents with me. I am their thing that will continue the family line” Snakey continued to sniff through his hair, he did not comment. He simply didn’t understand Ominis, he never got an answer back if the question wasn’t simple enough for his snake to understand. “I won’t let them.” Ominis said “I am more than something they can just use.” ‘Friend. Friend’ Snakey hissed ‘We go together’ “Yes” Ominis said. “We leave that house forever, very soon. I just need to finish school, find where Sebastian is hiding out and then we’ll get gold and-“ And it hit him. It hit him like a hundred Bludgers all slamming into his chest at once. The answer to what he needed to do.

“Snakey, I need you to listen very carefully and try to understand what I’m saying. I need to run something across with you, I need your help, you have answers I may need. Father and mother keep a little object in the house. It won’t be any bigger than maybe my hand. It will look old, as if it’s been passed from Gaunt to Gaunt, for many, many, many years, much longer than you or I have been alive. This item is cold, it’s like a metal, like what a fork smells like. On one end it will look like a cross almost, the other end it will have a loop.” He remembered once, holding the item. Feeling it, finding a hole in the centre that made it dangle from his finger. His father had handed it to him to hold only a handful of times while he buttoned his cloak or used his wand for some reason. “It’s called a ‘Key’, have you heard mother and father talking about it? They may have said ‘the key to the Vault. The Key for Gringotts’ anything like that. Snakey twitched on his head, then his head turned and came down closer to Ominis’ unseeing eyes. He paused and flickered his tongue once before answering. ’Yes’ “Get the key’” your parents have said it. It’s in their room. In a box. Shiva guards it. Bad. Bad.’

Ominis sat there, a feeling rising in him. It made the hair on his arms rise, he would describe it as rebellion. They all said the Gaunt family was the richest family in all the wizarding world, there was no other family that came close to their wealth. His parents tossed it around so willingly, it was as though the money was endless. They had a double-digit vault only, a sign of an early account with the ancient bank, some newer vaults had numbers reaching multiple numbers now, a whole list. The Gaunt’s vault was deep, deep, deep under the earth, guarded by a dragon as Marvolo had once told him. Ominis had never been down there as it was not safe for him, not being able to see, but the one time he had went with his father to get gold out, he had simply asked the Goblin for the gold while his father ‘dealt’ with a wizard down in Knockturn Alley. Crazy ideas ran through his head. He could take enough money to support himself, even Sebastian, for life and his parents would never even notice any of it gone. They could disappear. For the first time in his life, a grin like no other spread across Ominis’ face. A way to free himself. He would use his cunningness the way a Slytherin would, his family had always encouraged this behaviour, he would finally live up to his ancestry. If Salazar Slytherin or Cadmus Peverell were both alive right now, even they would be unnerved by the way their descendant was smiling. His silvery blue eyes seemed more alive than ever before, even Snakey glanced unsure at the expression on Ominis’ face ‘Good? Good?’ the snake asked. “Yes” Ominis said “I know what to do now, or at least some of it.” He would liberate himself, by liberating some of his parent’s wealth.

Easter at the Burrow was a totally different affair. “I swear, it’s harmless, you can trust me.” Garreth reassured Sebastian. “I’ve seen your- potions and smelt them.” Sebastian said, shaking his head. Almost a fortnight of talking to Garreth, who apparently never shut up when he was at home, had brought along Sebastian’s progress greatly. “That’s- not safe to drink.” “It is! How dare you Sallow. I shall have you know I have perfected my G.R.O.IN. Would you like to see?” Sebastian made a disgusted snort as Mr Weasley paused, then decided not to comment. “I told you, it stands for Garreth’s Revolutionary, Organic, INcreaser! It’s a male grooming aid. It could double the wavy hair upon your head, give you a full beard without any awkward bald patches and-“ “I’m fifteen, I don’t need a beard.” Sebastian laughed. Upon hearing that, Garreth’s look of glee faded a little as he looked over at his father slightly as Sebastian’s laughter died momentarily as the weight of his missing years hit him again, there was an awkward silence which Garreth quickly covered up. “It’s never too early Sebastian, imagine how mature you shall look at the ladies with a full chest of hair.” “Pass.” Sebastian laughed. “Truly. I don’t think stick man with chest hair is desirable.” Sebastian glanced down at his legs, currently he was wearing robes more suitable for a tall child and even they hung loose on him. He was eating three meals a day now and only being sick a few times, but weight gain was coming slowly. It seemed his body was using everything he was giving it on just keeping him awake during the day, although in the bath the night before, Sebastian could have sworn his ribs were a little less prominent. “I can develop a tonic for that too! You have inspired me to create a bulk inducing tonic so it looks like you’ve worked out. I shall name it SeFATstian in your honour.” Garreth joked as Sebastian laughed more. “Pass, again.” Tessie put her hands over her mouth in shock as Mr Weasley put a stop to the conversation. “Garreth, That’s enough.”

Professor Weasley called in a few times, sometimes Sebastian had been asleep while she came, others he was awake. Her final visit was the night before term started again, it would be the summer term before the year ended. Sebastian was reminded of the fact he didn’t even make it passed Christmas of his fifth year at school, and now Garreth would soon be ending his sixth year. “I have news, although you have no heard it from me, and certainly you are not permitted to repeat this to anybody Garreth.” She said, addressing the last part to her nephew. Sebastian was sitting on the rug by the fire with Garreth, the two had been playing wizarding chess together. Garreth was due back at Hogwarts tomorrow and if Sebastian was being honest, he was going to really miss Garreth. Having him around was like a reminder Hogwarts and all his life before Azkaban had been real, that he had really once just been a schoolboy and not just a sickly young man trying to recover from Azkaban. Professor Weasley paused. She took a breath, she didn’t want to get Sebastian’s hopes up, Black was sly and slippery, he could still worm his way out. “The board of Governors have been in touch. Not too long before term ended for Easter, the headmaster had an incident of sorts with a student. The student is claiming foul play and there’s circumstantial evidence to back up their claim, very strong evidence as the student in question was found at the foot of the headmaster’s study. The headmaster is getting investigated and, if he’s found to be culpable, which is looking very likely, as he’s in a terrible rage right now, there is a very strong chance he will be removed from the school.” All around him, the Weasley’s exchanged cautious happy looks. “Oh Merlin’s socks! Does this mean we’re getting rid of Black?” Garreth yelled. “This is good news, we must not get too ahead of ourselves though, we know what the Blacks are like.” Mrs Weasley said to her husband, who nodded. “He’s the most unpopular headmaster ever, if enough people protested when the board goes to Hogwarts…” He mused.

Professor Weasley meet Sebastian’s eyes and smiled. “This is good news Sebastian.” However Sebastian couldn’t link their happiness to her words, his brain was fogging up again. Black being gone from Hogwarts would likely make everybody happier, he guessed. “Sebastian,” Professor Weasley reminded him slowly. “Professor Black is the only thing standing in the way of your return to school. If he goes, you can come back and finish your education.” Now he understood why they all looked hopeful. He blinked slowly, if he could go back, he could see Ominis again, he could have his wand back. Maybe be an Auror… “I can go back if he’s gone?” He repeated, more to himself. “If he goes, I don’t want to get your hopes up, but if he’s gone, then yes.” Professor Weasley said gently. When Sebastian went to bed that night, hearing Garreth throwing his trunk down the stairs for tomorrow, he allowed himself for the first time ever to wonder what it may be like to wear Slytherin robes again, to hold a wand again. Even homework would be so welcome, he would even be happy to ride a broomstick high up in the sky if it meant being back in his own world. The Gaunts wouldn’t be able to get to him at Hogwarts, he could go outside again, live again. He lay there, longing to see the castle, the lake, even his wand. He wanted it all back.

The next morning, Garreth was looking for a place to sit on the train, there was an empty carriage but Ominis Gaunt was sitting in it, with a madman grin on his face, his eyes wide and staring, hissing to that snake of his. Garreth liked Gaunt, they had many classes together, but right now Garreth would rather ride on the roof than be in there alone with Gaunt. The guy did scare Garreth sometimes, and he knew if he went in there, would he be able to keep quite about Sebastian? Garreth moved on, leaving Gaunt grinning like a madman and as he did so, he passed Poppy Sweeting who was clutching a letter to her chest and grinning as equally as mad as Gaunt. Maybe today as a special grin like a lunatic day? If so, he didn’t get the memo. In the end, he found a carriage with Leander and Natsai. “Hey” Garreth said, sliding the door closed as he took his seat. He kept his word to his parents and his Aunte, when asked how his Easter had been, he just replied with, “Oh, normal really. My little sister got picked on by a gang of gnomes again.”

As normal, the train pulled in, the carriages took the students to the school and dinner was served. Professor Black did not grace them with his presence but stayed locked up in his office, still nursing his wounds. Everything was normal at Hogwarts and the summer term was ready to start, the moon rose into the sky and darkness fell upon Hogwarts, with the students and staff all going to sleep for their early starts the next morning. Yet hours after dark, the doors to the school opened once more.

Poppy knew what she was doing would make her grandmother scowl in disapproval, meeting a boy after dark and on her own was so scandalous, Poppy couldn’t believe she was doing it. However Marvolo was the one, she knew it. He had been writing to her all Easter, he spoke words to her that resonated with her soul. He wanted to save all the beasts; he had laid out plans to her about travelling the world to rescue dragons. Tonight, they were going to monitor Mooncalfs to see if they would dance in the late spring moonlight. Marvolo was not only deeply committed to protecting animals, but he was unbelievably good looking and very handsome. There was also something about his surname, everybody had told her the Gaunts were scary, but Marvolo was nothing but charming and beautiful, he was a kindred soul. She hadn’t told any of her friends that she was leaving her bed tonight and nobody had seen her leaving the school. Marvolo was waiting just outside the school grounds for her, he said he would bring blankets and food so they could stay out all night watching the dance of the Mooncalf. She eagerly rushed down the lawns in the moonlight and there by the winged boar gates, she could see him waiting for her. She opened the gates and walked outside the grounds of Hogwarts with a large smile on her face. “Marvolo!” She beamed at him. He flashed her that beautiful smile of his, his dark hair was reflecting the moon, almost turning it into a shinny dark blue and his eyes reflected back the flames held on the torches, lighting the path.

“Hello sweet, little Poppy.” He said, his head titled slightly as she stepped closer to him, a strangle little grin on his face. His eyebrows moved up in a mischievous way. Poppy giggled nervously, why was she suddenly on edge? Poppy looked at his grin, there was something unnerving around it, she couldn’t say what it was, but she preferred his smile, it was warmer. His grin was sort of... she didn't like it. She had just opened her mouth to ask him how he was when she noticed the bag was empty. It hung limp over his shoulder, there was clearly no blankets or food in there, why had he brought such a big bag for? While she had been standing there, she had never noticed the giant snake uncoiling itself up from the shadows, nor did she notice Marvolo’s wand had been in his hand all this time. It wasn’t only the moonlight that then shone in Marvolo’s hair, but wand light. His had moved his wand the exact same time that the snake had struck. And Poppy didn’t even have time to scream out before landing on the ground.

Yes. That would teach Ominis never to play games with him. His father had asked him awkward questions, leaving Marvolo to admit it was a wind up for Ominis and Marvolo was not going to risk his father's anger just over a joke with his brother. "Sorry Poppy, but it's just not going to work out, you know I only ever asked you on a date to annoy my brother, don't you?" He sneered as Mori started his work. "It's not you, its me. I'm just too much of a snake like that. I also don't particular enjoy the company of people whose blood is filthy as yours." He chuckled, then glanced up at Hogwarts in the dark, he knew what he should do next.

When the sun rose once more, Hogwarts had found itself in possession of a grotesque new addition to the Castle’s artwork. Suspended in the air, meters up and hoovering above the lawn was Poppy Sweeting. Her eyes were open wide and staring, her arms that were stretching out over her head were covered in hundreds of bites that dripped small streams of blood down to her robes. Her shoes had been removed and her feet were bleeding. She seemed to be silently screaming.

The castle was awoken by horrified screams and cries from Madam Kogawa as she went to lay out broomsticks for that morning’s flying class.

#Hogwarts Legacy #sebastian sallow #ominis gaunt #hogwarts legacy fic #marvolo gaunt #The Gaunt family #House of Gaunt #poppy sweeting #professor weasley #Master Gaunt #Marvolo is getting worse each time we se him <3 As he should. It's his right