The Blood within our veins (Ominis Gaunt)

Chapter Eight

Ominis's gentle soothing had allowed Gianna to rest after a very uneasy week at Hogwarts. For the first time in ages it felt like Gianna had been able to overcome the jittery feeling of needing to get everything done at once and simply relax. Gianna  owled Poppy and Natty an explanation for her disappearance and apologized for her absences at their three broomsticks dates.
Shortly after She fell asleep as soon as she had hit the pillow; something she would have to thank Ominis for. She was truly glad her original judgement of him was incorrect and he was actually a really sweet guy. She slept so soundly she almost slept through Potions. She quickly dressed and dashed to the classroom having forgotten her robe over her school attire and snuck haphazardly through the door.

Professor Sharp had already been lecturing when his eyes crossed the Blonde Slytherin girl and he shook his head. "Nice try Mrs. Romano. I can see you." Sharp chastised. "20 points from Slytherin for being late and not attempting to properly dress yourself." The professor groaned turning back to his instruction. Gianna rolled her eyes. She supposed this action was well deserved. Gianna surmised the professor wasn't keen on her already given that she had helped a certain Gryffindor boy with an experiment gone wrong and had decided to lie instead of answering Sharp honestly. That on top of being friends with Sebastian Sallow who Gianna now knew had pissed off Sharp for other reasons.

Gianna slid down into her regular seat next to a friendly looking Ravenclaw named Amit. Although he talked more than Gianna liked; Amit was very helpful and kind. He always offered suggestions for her concoctions and had gotten her out of trouble with Sharp by adding an ingredient she had missed last minute. Amit greeted her when he saw her come in. "Hello Gianna. Looks like Sharp is in a sour mood today." Amit said attempting to lift Gianna's spirits about loosing house points. "Is he ever." Gianna managed rhetorically with a small huff crossing her arms on the desk Infront of her. "Don't take it personally. He is always like this." Amit offered in consolation. Class continued and Sharp announced that the class would brew Thunder brew Potion based on the ingredients he asked the students to prepare for lecture. Amit very kindly lent extra to Gianna who had both woken up too late to get any and been so busy it had merely slipped her mind.

As Gianna began to crush the ingredients with a mortar and pestle, Amit went on about a new book he was reading. Gianna struggled to pay attention when her eyes drifted to Ominis across the classroom sitting next to a hufflepuff girl. They chatted in a somewhat friendly matter and the girl let out a laugh at something Ominis had said.

"Doesnt that sound fascinating?" Amit questioned snapping Gianna from Ominis and the Hufflepuff girl. Her eyes danced from Ominis to Amit back to Ominis back to Amit again. "Yes of course!" Gianna lied matching Amit's excited tone as not to offend him.

Whatever he had asked her this was clearly the right answer because Amit looked joyous to be sharing this information with her.

"It is isn't it?" Amit continued. "I just love stars. I could talk about them infinitely." He beamed staring off slightly.

Suddenly a presence leaned over her left shoulder. "Psst." Called Sebastian who had wondered over when Sharp was helping another student. "I was hoping to run into you. Thought you wouldn't show up." Sebastian teased earning another eye roll from Gianna. "Remember when I told you about my sister Anne?" Gianna nodded. "Well I thought after classes today you, me, and Ominis could go visit her in feldcroft. She's not been feeling too well lately and I think she would like company." Sebastian asked hopefully and Gianna smiled. "Of course. Wouldn't miss it." She grinned and Sebastian gave her a thumb's up when he saw Sharp leaving the Student's desk. "Meet me on the grounds near the Bell tower after classes." He whispered backing up to his own station and Gianna motioned a quick thumb's up of her own.