Ominis woke up in a cold sweat, his heart hammering in his chest. He took a second to breathe, pale hands gripping at his bedsheets.

He needed air. For some reason, the dormitories felt claustrophobic. He couldn’t get air.

Stumbling out of the dorms, his wand glowing red in front of his face so that he could navigate, Ominis sat in the bay window. His forehead pressed against the glass and he listened to the sound of fish swimming by, and of other creatures making their way around the water.

The screams of tortured muggles haunted the boy- their cries…

Ominis shook his head, trying to shake the memories from his head.

“Ominis?”

The voice from behind made him stand upright. “Im alright.” He assured softly, wiping sweat from his face. “I just had a nightmare, my dear” Ominis made sure to keep his voice soft when talking to you. He didn’t want you to be worried about him— this was something he’d dealt with all his life.

He could feel your eyes glaring at him. He shifted uncomfortably, then sat down on one of the common room couches. “Just..bad memories coming back is all.” He whispered, as if the words were falling from his lips before he could stop them. A secret, silent part of him needed your comfort right now.

“Can…” he sighed. By Merlin, this was pathetic of him. He was a Gaunt! Not a depressed puppy. Though, right now he didn’t feel far off it. “May you stay with me?” He asked, voice cracking, “I…need to offload these…thoughts.”