Pure Inheritance ~ Ominis Gaunt

Part 8

Ominis was treading the walk between the Quidditch Pitch and the courtyard.

It was the morning after the announcement of the Games, and he had been on the grounds of Hogwarts since the day before to discuss the event's details with the headmaster. He and his family were even forced to sit at the Professor's Table during the evening meal and witness another round of first years get sorted into their houses right before the Goblet of Fire was revealed in the centre of the room.

Now -after an entire morning of posing for the cameras and portraying the perfect picture of grace - he was leaving behind the celebration that had erupted after headmaster Black's second pronouncement of the same speech he had uttered last night. It was something along the lines of safety, waver of responsibility should one of the participants be injured, and, of course, the ever-present mention of lineage.

There was also mention of a small fee that needed to be provided before a student could place his/her name on the Goblet. Still, Ominis was aware it was a last-minute attempt to make a profit from the games, so anyone clever enough would assume the whole thing was a scam.

His hands were in his pockets while he walked a memorized path toward the castle. Occasionally, a stone would find the tip of his boot, and he would kick it along the way just to ditch the boredom. The air had lost summer's humidity, now having a more refreshing feeling.

- Hey!

He didn't even wince when he felt the slap on his back. Years ago, that might have been enough to make him lurch, but now he had confidence in his frame and stance, even when Sebastian's bestial strength challenged him.

- You finally decided to show up.

His posture was sloppy if compared to his usual bearing. With his hands inside his pockets, his hair slightly messed up due to the wind and a smirk on his face, he looked as if he had no worries.

- Sorry to miss Black's moment of triumph. Did something good happen? You are nearly smiling – he almost expected his clothes to be in disarray, but of course, that would be too extreme for Ominis -. Is the prospect of schoolchildren dying during a tournament appealing to you?

One of Ominis' eyebrows went up his hairline.

- Thought tempting, I won't be here during the tournament to witness that. However, they are letting first-years participate this time, so I'll wager there could be some casualties.

Sebastian fell in pace with Ominis' lazy stride.

- Neat! Had I been so lucky to participate back in the day, I could have made a fortune. So, how come you look so smiley today? – He scrunched his nose – There is a... glow sort of thing about you. Please stop it. It's unsettling.

Ominis chuckled.

- Like you said, I am in a good mood.

- Oh? – He chuckled like the devil – MC is the only one that makes you smile like that. Well, MC and Anne, but this better have nothing to do with my sister.

Ominis' countenance soured immediately.

- Sallow, I believe you can suck the joy out of everyone's life.

- I do my best – he muttered -. What happened, then?

The youngest of the two sighed.

- My father is going to support my position as patriarch – he pulled his hands out of his trousers' pockets and kept walking while retrieving his wand -. My mother will promote Marvolo as heir, but my father wants me. It's a done deal if you think about it.

Sebastian's reaction was underwhelming, even by Ominis' standards.

- That's it?

- I have been losing sleep due to this topic for months, and that is your response?