Chapter Text
Low murmurs were the first thing that registered with Edith as she began to wake. She couldn't tell what they were about but the voices almost sounded like Professor Weasley and Professor Sharp.
What happened? She remembered… the cornflower blue eyes from her nightmares staring back at her from a place she wasn't prepared for. Edith felt her body tense and a gentle hand squeezed hers.
She flinched.
“It's alright Edith, it's just me.” The voice was Ominis. That was good. “You gave us all a fright.”
There was one final squeeze and then his hand let go. How was she going to explain what happened? She barely even understood it.
“Take your time, dear.” Professor Weasley reminded her. Voices were much clearer now. She heard someone drop a tray in the next room.
Opening her eyes was a strange feeling. For a few panicked moments they refused to open but when they did, she only had vision from one. The other, she could only see white. She felt herself panic, her now free hand flying to her face.
There was a squishy patch of gauze covering her eye. She could feel a dull pain spreading under it from the pressure of her touch and the familiar scent of the medicinal salve.
“You were injured.” Professor Weasley explained bringing a cup of water to her mouth.
“How?” She asked as she struggled to sit up. Professor Weasley carefully helped her and put a pillow behind her back.
Ominis was seated next to her bed, he looked tired… like something had wrung him dry and his winter blue eyes were pinched with worry.
Professor Sharpe was a silent guardian by the door, standing close to the healer. It was a different healer than earlier; she didn’t think she’d seen this one before. How long had she been asleep?
Professor Weasley looked like she was struggling to find the words when Professor Sharp cut in.
“Your magic lashed out. Putting you to sleep became necessary.”
She took that to mean she could have hurt someone. Ominis had been the closest to her… though the memory was fuzzy. She remembered he was frightened and asked her what happened. She hadn't meant to scare anyone. At least she hadn't hurt him. She felt her eyes water; it must have been so terrible for him. Yet he was still here, he hadn’t left.
“Could you tell us what happened, sweetheart?” Professor Weasley asked as gently as she could.
Edith took a breath as her heart rate spiked; she felt the air suddenly catch in her throat. She reached out and curled her fingers in Ominis's sleeve. He was there, she hadn't hurt him but he did deserve to know why.
“I had forgotten that I have my father’s eyes.” She began carefully choosing her words. The quicker this was over before her panic set in again, the better. “I – I wasn’t expecting to see them in a hallway.”
Merlin, she hoped that was enough. She could already feel her hands beginning to shake again.
“Oh Edith, we had thought it was something like that.” Professor Weasley explained, losing her composure and gathering Edith into a hug. It was so uncomfortable… and yet oddly comforting. It was also the end of her restraint or attempt at it. The sobs she had been trying to hold back tore free.
“I- I don’t want these eyes anymore. Can’t I just – remove them?” She hiccupped. “I can live blind – I’d rather be.”
“No, Edith. That is not an acceptable option.” Professor Sharp cut in, his voice tight in a way she'd never heard before.
“I agree.” Ominis spoke hesitantly. He sounded like she had just broken his heart. “But I think there is another option.” She felt him grab her sleeve in return.
“Really?” Edith pulled her face from Professor Weasley’s shoulder. He looked just as shocked as he sounded, she felt bad for hurting him.
“You could change your eye colour. There's a witch in Hogsmeade who specialises in cosmetic magic.” He began slowly, as if testing his words.
“One of the brightest witches to come out of Hogwarts and she's changing eye colours for sickles in Hogsmeade.” Professor Weasley grumbled. “She is exceptionally talented, mind you… but it's a dreadful waste of talent.”
“But useful, this time. Very well. The transformation can always be reversed, should you wish it later on, so I see no harm.” Professor Sharp cut in again.
“Once you've recovered a little, I'll bring her here.” Professor Weasley added, giving her a squeeze.
Was it really that easy? She'd never heard of changing eye colour before but they made it sound so… normal.
“If you could pick any colour, what would it be?” Ominis asked, drawing her attention. He looked a bit better now.
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Exhaustion hung over the room like fog now that Edith was calmer again. There was a regular St Mungo's nurse crowding the small room, changing Edith's dressings. The smell of herbal antiseptic he normally tolerated was making his stomach twist.
“I think it's time for you to head back.” Professor Weasley pointed out before he felt her hand in his hair.
The sensation made him freeze for a moment. He half expected the hand to curl and yank his head back before he remembered that Professor Weasley would never do such a thing.
“You did well today, Ominis.” She continued before pulling him against her. It was strange; no-one had given him a hug since his Aunt Noctua had still been alive. It was comforting but also disorientating. “But you also need to rest. Professor Sharp will take you back to the castle. I will stay with Edith.”
He nodded against her, not sure what else he could do. Part of him would rather stay, afraid Edith wouldn't be here when he came back, the other desperately needed time to think and sleep.
Ominis pulled back from Professor Weasley and stood up, turning to where he knew Edith was.
“I'll come visit you again tomorrow.” He said, grateful the visits had become an unspoken daily occurrence now. He felt she needed to hear him say he would come back.
“Ominis?” Her voice was small and tired.
“Yes?” He replied waiting. The pause was only a few heartbeats, but he felt nervous anyway.
“I'm… I'm sorry you had to see that.” Edith began, pausing. She sounded so fragile. “I didn't mean to frighten you.”
“You didn't.” He began choosing his words without necessarily lying. “You were hurt.”
He hadn't been afraid of her… only for her.
“Good night.” She breathed. Ominis felt her magic relax, just a hair’s breath.
“Good night, Edith.” Ominis replied before he turned and followed Professor Sharp out into the hallway.
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Returning to the castle was always disorientating after spending hours at St Mungo's. The noises were always jarringly different… Squeals of excited students rather than wails of the sick.
Ominis could hear suits of armour shift and portraits whisper as he and Professor Sharp walked towards the Great Hall. Professor Sharp's unsteady gait was the only thing still grounding him.
If Professor Sharp noticed how tightly he held his wand or how tense his shoulders were he didn't comment.
“You handled yourself well today, Ominis.” Professor Sharp stated when they entered the hall. “Better than most adults would have.”
It didn't feel like he had, but he knew better than to argue. Instead he just nodded, gripping his wand a little tighter.
“You are exhausted. You are to eat and then sleep. Tomorrow you may visit her again.” Professor Sharp instructed as he put a firm hand on Ominis's shoulder for a moment before removing it and leaving.
Ominis stood in front of the doors to the Great Hall for a moment. The sound of laughter seeped out though the solid wood door.
He was too tired to go inside.
Professor Sharp had told him to eat, but the kitchens would serve just as well. They would be quiet, at least.
The walk to the kitchen was silent, apart from his footsteps echoing through the empty stone halls. Thankfully his mind was still just as quiet.
“Ominis?” Came Poppy's voice just as he reached the portrait with the pear. He'd forgotten the Hufflepuff common room was down here.
“Yes?” He replied. He had a few moments for Poppy. She would notice he was tired and not intrude long.
“Are you alright? How was Edith?” She asked quickly, stopping a few feet away from him. Her footsteps barely made any sound at all.
Ominis took a deep breath thinking about how much to say and decided he just didn't have the energy.
“Today… was not a good day. She got hurt.” He paused for a moment before adding. “She frightened herself.”
“I'm glad you were there for her.” Poppy replied softly. “I worry when she's alone.”
He nodded, relieved to remember that Professor Weasley was still with her.
“You should rest. Give her my best when you see her next.” She said before he heard her quiet footsteps retreat.
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