Work Text:
Sebastian jumped up and shrieked when, sitting at the Slytherin table at breakfast, three barn owls gently put down a large, rectangular package in front of him. His plate of muffin, eggs, and sausages disappeared under it.
The box spanned the space of several students. Anne was sitting with her dorm-mates and squinted at Sebastian suspiciously.
Thankfully, the other students usually kept a respectful distance from Sebastian and the Heir of Slytherin, leaving enough space on the table for this mysterious delivery. The distance, however, didn’t prevent the low chatter and curious glances at Sebastian: receiving a delivery this size was unusual even for Slytherins, the House with the most number of wealthy students.
He looked down at the tightly wrapped brown paper.
There was no sender information or address, only his name written in cursive on a sticker that sealed the packaging: Sebastian Sallow.
“Ominis, what do you think this could be?” Sebastian held his breath. Was this… really for him?
He kept standing and leaned forward, one hand supporting himself on the table and the other hand touching the dark green ribbon that circled the brown paper.
Uncle Solomon was so stingy that, growing up, Sebastian had not even experienced what it would feel like to wait for days before he could open his present from under the Christmas tree. Anne might receive some new clothes, but Sebastian would be lucky to get a few coins.
To have something delivered to him was a first.
Not to mention a delivery with a packaging so elaborate.
Could this… be a cruel joke? Although spending on three owls would be too costly for anyone who merely wanted to trick him.
Sipping out of his teacup, Ominis lifted his eyebrow. “Maybe you should open it to find out.”
Ominis seemed too calm, but that went to the back of Sebastian’s mind when he was focused entirely on pulling at the ribbon and tearing apart the wrapping.
He thought about carrying the package to his dorm but wasn’t patient enough for that.
As the ribbon fell to the ground and paper dropped to the table surface, Sebastian was holding his breath again.
Because the words on the box said, “Sky Scythe Broom.”
He had heard about this broom from his Quidditch teammates and read about an advertisement for it in the Daily Prophet, but to get to see and then own such a broom himself?
Imelda ran down the aisle and nearly pushed Sebastian on the ground when she saw the words on top of the box. She whistled loudly, earning a grimace from Ominis.
“I knew that was a broom! And… damn, Sallow… you lucky bastard. I expect you to be on your best performance from now on! You’ll have no excuse with this new model.”
She turned around to sit with other girls, grumbling words like “lucky” and “unfair.”
Laughing a little, Sebastian lifted the top of the box and gently opened the light gray wrapping paper, revealing the beautiful broom inside. It had a mix of green and gray bristles, sturdy silver tinted metal, a large and comfortable seat, and a delicate handle with intertwining wood and metal and wrapped by a piece of silver silk.
Leaning closer to Sebastian’s arm, Ominis waved his wand. The flickering red light pulsed through the broom.
“It is absolutely gorgeous, Ominis!” Sebastian inhaled deeply. “Are you done with breakfast?”
Ominis looked to Sebastian’s face, “Yes...?”
“Because you need to go on a ride with me—my first ride on this new broom! I know you don’t like flying, but please, please, please!” Sebastian carefully took out the broom from the box, and many pairs of eyes in the hall looked to him, some of them probably jealous.
Ominis sighed softly, “Very well… just this once. For you.”
“Should we… get rid of the packaging?” Sebastian held the broom and hesitated.
Ominis shook his head, “I’m sure that the house elves could take care of it. Let’s go.”
With the Slytherin table being the furthest to the door leading to the courtyard, everyone in the Great Hall saw what Sebastian received, making him blush. He held the door open for Ominis to go through first.
Then, Sebastian ran down the first flight of stairs and climbed on the broom.
“Ominis, sit behind me!” he gestured to Ominis, who was catching up.
On Ominis’ face, there was the lightest frown. Ominis was exempted from flying lessons, and he never showed any interest in being on the back of a broom, despite Sebastian’s constant encouragements and nagging.
But Sebastian really wanted to share his first ride with Ominis today.
“I’ll be slow and keep you safe, I promise. I’m also excellent at casting Arresto Momentum,” Sebastian winked, his tone playful.
He heard Ominis take in a deep breath. Then, Ominis extended his leg to sit behind Sebastian on the seat, his slim form fitting perfectly, and put away his wand.
“Okay… Sebastian, I’m ready,” Ominis said. “Where… should I hold on? I haven’t done this before...” His voice was small, and a bit shy.
Ominis’ breath hit the back of Sebastian’s neck, and Sebastian almost shivered.
A blush rose to his cheeks. He totally didn’t think of that… that Ominis would need to hold onto him.
Now that the opportunity presented itself, Sebastian was not about to back out, not with the chance to both test out the broom with Ominis and feel Ominis so close…
Sebastian reached back to find Ominis’ hands—they were a little cold, as always—and brought them to cross each other in front of his stomach. He then patted and squeezed the bony fingers.
“Yes, hold onto me,” he smirked.
Ominis nodded, his chin grazing Sebastian’s robe.
“All right, we’ll be off.” Sebastian pressed his shoes into the ground and took off.
The Sky Scythe Broom was indeed incredible. Sebastian tried to be gentle, and the broom appeared to read his mind, increasing their height in the air gradually. Soon, they were above the shrubs and stairs and in the air.
Before Sebastian could comment on the broom, he became distracted by Ominis, whose long fingers clutched at both openings of Sebastian’s robe and even reached inside to find more purchase on his suit jacket.
Sebastian wondered if Ominis could tell that he had muscles on his stomach.
In addition, Ominis leaned into Sebastian so much that their bodies pressed together in an impossibly close way. Ominis’ chest glued onto Sebastian’s back, and Sebastian blushed thinking of Ominis’ groin…
Sebastian’s heart beat faster: certain that Ominis could hear it, he hoped that Ominis would think that it was because of the new broom.
And Sebastian was relieved that he wasn’t the one that needed to sit behind Ominis, because he might not be able to control where his blood was quickly surging to.
“We’re flying close to the bridge by the south exit. I’m about to bring us under it to go beneath the beams.” he tilted his face back.
Becoming messy in the wind, Ominis’ blond hair was by Sebastian’s lips. He could almost taste the note of bergamot in the strand of hair by his lips.
He gulped.
Then turned back his face to the front immediately.
This was certainly… distracting and difficult.
He focused on lowering the broom and flying beneath the bridge safely. It was always a thrill to take aim and fly close to buildings and large structures, especially now with Ominis on his back.
Then, Sebastian kept going right.
“Now, we’re close to the large courtyard leading the way to Hogsmeade. Oh, and the greenhouses, and the cute fountain that you showed me before.”
Sebastian smiled at the fond memory of the summer twilight that they spent by the fountain. He was sure that Ominis was smiling, too.
“This time, it’s my turn. There’s actually something I want to show you…”
One of Sebastian’s hands left the handle, covering Ominis’ fingers.
“We’re going to go up in the air a bit, up a small waterfall, and get a little close to the water, but don’t worry—I got this.” Sebastian explained.
“Sure,” Ominis scooted even closer on the broom.
Sebastian went right again, bringing them into a narrower area between rising rocks. After flying up a waterfall and then beneath the square beams of a bridge, where water was right under their feet, Sebastian slowly stopped the broom’s movement.
“Use your wand and check it out,” he chuckled.
Sebastian’s hand stayed on Ominis’, even lacing their fingers together to make Ominis secure. He felt Ominis’s other hand reach into his robe and take out his wand to examine the three round, stained-glass windows in front of them. Two stone gargoyles with open round mouths sat in between the space above.
“Gargoyles and what I’m guessing are stained-glass windows… Are we actually outside the Slytherin Common Room?” Ominis sounded pleasantly surprised.
“You bet. I’ve always wanted to show you—I know how you love tricking first-years into thinking that there are mermaids outside the windows, like how you made me fall… for that prank… back when we were first-years,” Sebastian smiled.
Ominis’ cheeks were pink, perhaps from the wind?
“I remember,” a genuine smile graced his lips, “never would have thought that the three round windows on top are actually above the water. Thank you… for sharing this with me. I could never have come out here myself.”
Sebastian squeezed Ominis’ fingers again before reaching further back to pat Ominis on the thigh, “Don’t mention it. Come, let’s go.”
He was being bold… yet Ominis didn’t mind. He only put away his wand again and circled his arms around Sebastian’s torso.
Sebastian wished that this flight would never end, but he worried about Ominis getting dizzy or uncomfortable. Coming out from under the bridge and gradually lowering their height, Sebastian went right and slowly landed them at the circular platform before the last flight of stairs down to the boathouse.
Although they landed and their feet were back on solid ground, Ominis still held tightly onto Sebastian.
He chuckled, “We’re now by the boathouse. Want to sit down at the bench here?”
He felt Ominis nod. One hand holding Ominis’ fingers, Sebastian balanced himself with the other hand and stepped off the broom. Then, he reached for Ominis’ arm for him to step down safely and sit on the stone bench overlooking the warm morning sun’s reflections on the Black Lake.
“I probably could never be a fan of flying, but that was enjoyable. Your verdict on the broom?” Ominis said after a comfortable silence.
“I love it; can’t wait to win more games with it,” Sebastian smiled, “and you can ride with me anytime.”
From the corner of his eye, Sebastian could tell that Ominis’ beauty marks became more distinct on his flushed face.
“Are you cold from the wind? Your fingers were icy, and your cheeks are pink.” Sebastian leaned in and took up Ominis’ hand in both of his.
This was just an excuse for him to touch Ominis again. The flight gave him some opportunity, but not quite enough…
Ominis was blushing even more, and he gave in to Sebastian holding his hand.
Then, Sebastian looked into the pale blue eyes that were clearer than the rippling lake. “And, thank you for the broom.”
“Sebastian…!” Ominis sat up straight and wanted to object this time.
But before Ominis could come up with a weak excuse, Sebastian chuckled and gripped Ominis’ hand tighter, the cold fingers soothing in his warm palms.
“Come on, I’m not stupid, okay? Besides you, no one else would do this for me. You were much too calm when the package arrived. If it came from anybody else, you would have questioned me, a lot.”
His heart pounded, and Sebastian would regret not doing so if this moment slipped away, but he still felt impossibly nervous—Sebastian leaned in and gave Ominis a light peck on the cheek.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
Ominis was blushing again and holding onto Sebastian’s hands tightly. His long eyelashes fluttered, and Ominis smiled.