Epilogue. December, 1926

The rising sun barely pierced through the thick morning fog. Through the dense mist, one could discern a tall figure in a cloak with a cane, graceful and elegant despite a slight limp. The man walked slowly among the gravestones, following a path he knew by heart, one he could navigate even under the effects of the Memory Charm, so deeply engraved it was in his muscle memory. His face was impassive, and age had left few marks on it. Only his completely white, gleaming with silver hair gave his age away. His dark blue, nearly black eyes, devoid of pupils, stared into emptiness; his lips were pressed into a thin line, as if he were trying to contain some emotions. Old scars on his face and neck made him resemble a former Auror, and indeed, he had been one, but it had been so long that he hardly remembered when. Those memories held little importance for him, and all the scars had been left by one single person. 

After a few minutes, the man stopped by five very ordinary tombstones and sank to his knees next to one of them. His leg, broken twenty-five years ago, ached, sending painful impulses through his body, and he winced slightly. He closed his eyes and rested his forehead against the cold, rough stone. His breathing became labored and irregular. He removed a pure white glove from his hand, and his fingers dug into the earth by his knees. Somewhere in the distance, thunder rumbled, but he didn't even flinch, as if he hadn't heard it.

"I miss you so much, Sebastian," the man whispered in a hoarse voice. His vocal cords had never fully recovered after that infinitely distant night, the memories of which seared his heart with such intensity that it felt as though it had all happened just yesterday, "but I say this to you year after year, and you've probably grown tired of hearing it. But it's the truth. It's the only thing I still feel. The terrible longing for you and the insane pain of your loss. And also anger. Why did you leave me here?"

His slender, dirt-streaked fingers gently touched the engraved letters in the stone: Sebastian Sallow. He clenched his teeth and grimaced. Within that name lay a trove of beautiful memories, the most exquisite emotions, and a wealth of the most bitter pain and sorrow. It left an oddly bittersweet taste of ashes and sugary berries on his lips. The man struggled to swallow the lump in his throat. His lips quivered, tears welled up in the corners of his eyes, and he quickly wiped them away with his gloved hand. His fingers continued to trace each letter, and the closer they drew to the end, the slower they moved, as if fearing some ominous consequence when they reached the final one.

"I couldn't follow you, Sebastian," the man whispered once more, his voice choked with emotion, "forgive me. I..."

He faltered. Once again, he attempted to rationalize his decision, if only to himself, and failed. Why hadn't he ended his own life on that very night? Why had he chosen to continue living? For what purpose? Or was it out of spite? He couldn't grasp it. He had never managed to exact revenge on Marvolo and still endured his torment indifferently day after day. Pain and fear no longer coursed through him; all he felt was a profound sense of helplessness, preventing him from resisting the torture or even caring for himself afterward. The corners of his lips trembled bitterly when he reflected on how, thanks to Marvolo, he had survived to such an advanced age. If Marvolo hadn't compelled him to join him and their father for dinner every day, eating and drinking together, he would have perished from starvation that spring. As the years passed, his elder brother lost interest in him, and he adopted the wretched existence of an indoor plant, silently observing the world around him. He roamed the mansion like a soundless, unseen specter. He witnessed his father's demise. He witnessed Marvolo's marriage, the birth of his son and daughter, and his wife's subsequent passing. Marvolo's son, Morfin, began to resemble his father more with each passing year, while his daughter, Merope, seemed to become his polar opposite. He observed her elopement with a Muggle, and he observed Marvolo and Morfin being sent to Azkaban. Yet, it was as if none of them truly perceived him. He felt as if he had died many years ago, his presence haunting the corridors like a memory unclaimed by anyone but this vast, ancient estate. With a heavy sigh, the man drew his forehead away from the coarse gravestone, stood up from his knees, and took a step toward the adjacent grave. His fingers grazed the rugged surface.

"I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive us, Anne. We've paid the full price for your death," the man sniffled, "how wonderful it would be to gather once more in the Slytherin common room and play Gobstones. I miss both of you terribly."

The man sat on the ground between the two graves and spent several hours there, saying almost nothing, pondering how and why everything had come to this end. When the sky began to slowly release enormous flakes of snow, resembling ash, he stood up and silently headed away. Every time he left the cemetery, he prayed not to return here the following year, to finally lay down to sleep and never wake up again. Upon reaching his home, he had a few sips of whiskey while sitting in the armchair by the fireplace in the very same bedroom where Sebastian had died twenty-eight years ago. It was unbearable for him to be here, but at the same time, it was the only place that reminded him of Sebastian, a place where his presence was still faintly perceptible. His eyes slowly closed, and the glass with the unfinished alcohol slipped from his fingers, landing on the carpet with a soft, muted sound. A small dark stain appeared on the hard-worn pile. The gray-haired man's head drooped to the side, and an almost imperceptible smile lingered on his lips. An hour passed. Five hours passed. His eyelids turned bluish, his fingers became like solid marble, his chest no longer rose and fell, but that almost invisible smile remained forever on his lips.

***

Ominis raced down Diagon Alley with unbridled enthusiasm, heading towards Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour. The bright azure skies stretched above him, and the sunlight played in his light hair. His wide-open eyes scanned the numerous shops, small groups of schoolchildren, and the cobblestone road beneath his feet. He could see again, and everything he beheld was imbued with beauty. Gasping for breath, he halted in front of the café's outdoor terrace, a wide grin breaking across his face. His heart raced, and his knees quivered with excitement.

At a corner table, Anne and Sebastian sat engrossed in a spirited discussion, entirely unaware of his presence. Three servings of partially melted ice cream adorned the table before them. Sebastian, with feigned indignation, gesticulated with a dessert spoon as he attempted to convince his sister of something. She, in turn, rolled her eyes and dismissed his argument with a wave.

Ominis hastily brushed away the unexpected tears that welled up in his eyes and ascended the steps. Anne was the first to spot him, her joyful wave punctuating her recognition. Sebastian then turned towards him, sporting a broad smile. Golden sparks danced in his eyes, causing Ominis' stomach to perform a delightful somersault. He raised his hand and waved in return, feeling his legs grow weak and a gentle weight in his movements.

"We've ordered apple-lavender for you; I remembered it was your favorite," Sebastian announced as Ominis approached the table. He nodded slowly, feeling everything around him blur, and tears instantly welled up, streaming down his cheeks.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Anne asked with concern.

"I'm just so incredibly happy to see you. I missed you both so much; you have no idea. It's like... an entire eternity has passed since our last meeting," he mumbled almost inaudibly as Anne enveloped him in strong, warm hugs. They were so tight that it probably meant her illness had receded.

In response, he buried his nose in her shoulder, closed his eyes, and wrapped his arms around her, holding her so tightly that all three of them heard the crunching of her ribs. Anne yelped, but she didn't rush to break free from the embrace. It was unclear how much time they stood like that when Ominis heard Sebastian clear his throat and felt a gentle poke on his shoulder. He released Anne and turned around, wiping away tears from his eyes. Everything inside him quivered when he scrutinized Sebastian's face in such detail for the first time. That self-assured, sparkling grin, the playful sprinkling of freckles, the lively, shining eyes. Ominis caught his breath, and his hand instinctively reached toward Sebastian's face, but his fingers froze just an inch from the warm skin. Sebastian took his wrist and pressed Ominis' palm against his cheek. Ominis raised his other hand and cupped Sebastian's face, gazing at him with admiration and attentiveness.

"You... You look like a god," he exclaimed, his eyes widening as if that could help him see even better. He chuckled, realizing he had said something nonsensical.

"Oh, I see how it is. I'll leave you two to it," Anne said sarcastically, returning to the table and resuming her ice cream but still keeping an eye on the boys, "seems like you missed my brother much more, Ominis."

"Anne, please, turn away," Sebastian said, his eyes flashing in her direction.

His sister sighed, rolled her eyes, and reluctantly turned her chair around. Sebastian gently lifted Ominis' chin, causing Ominis' heart to plummet. His legs trembled, barely holding him up, but he couldn't tear his eyes away from Sebastian's face. He watched as Sebastian's gaze slowly descended to his lips, how he licked his lips hungrily, how his lips parted slightly, and how his face drew closer. Unable to resist any longer, Ominis closed his eyes just as Sebastian's lips finally met his own. This kiss was so long and sweet; it felt like an eternity, and they no longer needed to hide their feelings from prying eyes.

Sebastian's hand wrapped around Ominis' waist, his fingers buried in the hair at the back of his head, and for a moment, he pulled Ominis even closer before letting go. Sebastian embraced him and pulled him close, pressing his lips against Ominis' forehead. When they finally broke their embrace and sat back at the table, Anne turned her chair back to face them, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow in annoyance. Ominis blushed and turned away shyly, while Sebastian chuckled and took a bite of his ice cream. Brother and sister resumed their argument, trying to win Ominis over to their respective sides, but he just waved them off with a smile, shifting his gaze from one beloved face to the other, feeling infinite happiness and contentment wash over him. Within a few exchanges, he had lost track of the argument, simply enjoying the changing emotions of his best friends.

"So, are you ready? We're heading home," he heard a cheerful voice behind him, and heavy hands descended on their heads, tousling their hair. Anne burst into laughter, watching their disgruntled faces. Ominis turned around and saw uncle Solomon towering over them, "move along; we still need to chase gnomes out of the garden. They've invaded again."

The trio quickly finished their ice cream, got up from the table, and reluctantly made their way towards the exit of Diagon Alley. But their faces still bore smiles because dealing with the gnomes would be over quickly, and ahead of them lay an entire endless summer.

The end.