Archive of Our Own ^beta

After the day they had together, Sebastian didn’t seem to mind all the mentions of the new girl (It helped that some of the game rubbed off on him, and he was getting more attention than ever. And if he was, Anne was too, inevitably. More people sent letters home to her and he was sure they made her smile.) Even if some of the tales he had heard were rather incredulous and downright impossible. From fighting more trolls, poachers, rogue spiders and wolves- Sebastian and Ominis almost made it a game to guess what it was that came into her path of blazing destruction.

“There is such a thing as trying too hard,” Ominis muttered to no one in particular. They came upon the Central Hall, their footsteps slowing down Ominis heard the trickle of the fountain and the pleasant humming coming from the mermaid statue that posed near the water. “You were there with the troll too, weren’t you?”

“Of course. I was fighting alongside her.” 

“Someone told me you were too busy being flailed around.”

“They’re just jealous I was given the privilege of free butterbeer.” 

Ominis scrunched up his nose as they came closer to their Herbology classroom. “Ugh, what’s that smell? Is she growing Pungeous Onion again?”

The greenhouse felt especially humid today despite their approach to autumn. Sebastian wiped his forehead with the back of his sleeve as he approached Professor Garlick. She was pretty, the witches and wizards of the Slytherin common room were quick to admit that (As were the rest of the houses, no doubt). It always amazed him that she managed to have hair that thick and long along with the insistence that she wear a long sleeve gown and large hat. He always assumed she used some sort of magic to withstand the humidity. 

“Good morning, Sebastian,” Professor Garlick greeted him with dreamy smile while stuffing something white and bulbous in his hands. “You’ll need this,” she winked before her face lit up at the student standing behind him. “Ah! Lenora, darling!” 

Sebastian moved to his seat and started placing his tools in order of how he’ll use them. Across the partition of potted plants, he saw Ominis take a seat with a rather worried expression. It was both Sebastian’s duty and privilege to make sure he teased him about this class (‘Too lowly to touch a spot of soil, my lord?’). 

“Ah, hello!” Sebastian’s focus was brought to the entrance as Professor Garlick turned to face the rest of them. 

“Class, let’s welcome the newest rose in our garden!” Professor Garlick moved aside to let the new student show her face, which was a shy one. Priscilla smiled nervously, taking her cauliflower plugs then began her search for an open spot in class. Fortunately for him, it was the desk right next to his (No one took the seat to his left as it was directly next to a rather large and especially snappy Venomous Tentacula). Taking the stool, she started arranging everything onto her table and he couldn’t help but watch. Specifically, he was taking a closer look at her hands. The knuckles were red and raw while other parts contained long scratches; when she reached for one of the seed packets, her sleeve rid upwards and he saw some bruising mottling her flesh. She must have seen him looking as she ducked her hands below the table to slip on a pair of gardening gloves. He wanted to ask her where she got them from, but as more and more students milled into the greenhouse he decided against it. 

“First time handling a Mandrake?” Sebastian whispered to her. 

She nodded. “It’s my first time having anything to do with horticulture.”

“Annoying little beasts,” he said, pointing at the rooted baby hiding in his pot. “Though I admit, once you know the proper technique they won’t scream as much.”

“And what is ‘the proper technique’?”

“Grasp it firmly with both hands and be gentle. If you’re too rough, it’ll start screaming before it even comes out..” Sebastian’s sentence tapered off when he saw the pink blossom on her cheeks. “What? Is it something I said?” He gave her a wink. 

“You’re terrible,” she mumbled. Her words were muffled by a smile she was failing to hold back. 

“Now class, let’s make sure we protect our ears first.” Professor Garlick held the cauliflower up and everyone followed suit in stuffing them as snugly as they could in their ears. “Now- be firm..and..pull!” 

Sebastian was struck by the sound of a thousand screaming babies as he and fellow classmates plucked the tubers from their hole. The sound especially came from his left. Priscilla was struggling with her Mandrake and a particularly large one at that. The ugly thing was clawing at the air with its roots for hands, shivering and screaming. Another noise had joined the cacophony and he looked up just to see the glass panes crack with multiple webs streaming through it. 

He squashed his into the next pot as gently as he could and quickly patted the soil atop of it. A sigh of relief came from him when the rest of the class quieted down and was instead replaced by the sound of hands patting dirt. Professor Garlick approached her with a worried smile. “I’m very sorry about that. Yours was a bit mature, I’m afraid.” She took Priscilla’s pot from her desk. “All right then.” Despite the mess, she still clapped her hands and beamed. “Splendid work, everyone! Ah, Priscilla dear, will you come here for a moment?” 

Sebastian couldn’t help but listen in though he could only pick up crumbs. “-kind of you.. How about learning of a new kind of flora-... -has kindly offered to escort you.” 

“Dear Merlin,” Ominis found him with a frown on his face. “That was horrible. I should think Professor Garlick would have been more careful with her Mandrakes, I don’t want to become deaf, too.” 

Sebastian hastily agreed as he was paying more attention to how Leander Prewett the Prick was leading their newest rose in their garden up the stairs. That’s the classmate that ‘kindly’ offered to escort her? A part of him wanted to chuck the mandrake right at Leander. 

“I saw you on the way to Hogsmeade the other day,” Leander said loudly. “With Sallow, no less. No matter, I’m here now and I can show you our Chinese Chomping Cabbages. Up these stairs, ladies first.” 

Sebastian moved his pot of Dittany closer to where he could hear better. 

“Nice work in Defense Against the Dark Arts, by the way,” came Leander’s voice.

“Excuse me?” said Priscilla. 

“Your duel with Sebastian! And he’s good. Ha, think’s he’s really good. But you outright slaughtered him! It was brilliant.” 

“..Oh. Well. Thank you.”

“I nearly put Sebastian in his place myself. I mean. I would’ve, if Hecat hadn’t stopped me.”

“Didn’t she stop a dragon skull from crushing you?”

“Yes, well. Typical Slytherin trick. Dropping a dragon skull on your opponent. We Gryffindors fight with honor.. And, um, Ravenclaws too. At least you do.” 

“Don’t let what he said bother you,” Ominis cut in. “You know you’re a far better duelist than Prewett. Yes, don’t be surprised I was listening in. I was wondering why you were so quiet at first, but when I heard Leander talking to our newest classmate, well, it was quite obvious.”

Sebastian was glad he didn’t see the look of flushed humiliation on his face. 

***

The only good thing about his next class was the proximity of it. Professor Sharp’s Potion class was on the opposite end of Garlick’s greenhouse and allowed him the luxury of a relaxed stroll as he was certainly in no rush to get there. He was thankful that Ominis agreed to take Potions this early in the morning with him so he would at least have someone to bother within the class when Sharp’s diminutive stare got too aggravating for him.

Hurried footsteps followed them from behind and he watched as Priscilla ran past them. 

“Oi, Ravenclaw!” he called and watched as she slammed into a halt. “Are you taking Potions next class, too?”

“Yes, I am,” she replied back almost breathlessly. “I didn’t want to be late, so I-”

“Relax, you won’t be. It’s closer than you think.”

She hesitated a bit but Sebastian had already worked his magic and she soon joined them on their stroll. 

“What did you think of Garlick’s Mandrake?” asked Ominis. 

“It was something,” she said kindly. “I’ve only seen one in passing before, but never the whole thing. Back in London.”

“London? Do you have family there?”

“No. I live by myself in one of the apartments near the palace. Professor Fig was kind enough to lend it to me before coming here.” She glanced at them and waved the notion away, seemingly not eager to talk about it. “Do you have a place in London too?”

“My family does, yes. The Gaunts occasionally do the Ministry a favor by keeping tabs on Muggle politics. Information exchange can be quite valuable even in the wizarding world. Sebastian was actually supposed to come stay over the summer, along with A-”

“We’re almost there,” Sebastian interrupted. “Let’s get inside before Sharp yells at us.” 

Ominis didn’t even seem the slightest bit offended and instead followed him in quietly. Priscilla noted the silence between the two and went off to find an open cauldron. It seemed that she’d been having the worst luck with seats today as the only one available was the one close to Sharp’s desk. Garreth was surprisingly one of the last to run in just as Professor Sharp himself lumbered in. His dark eyes raked all over the other students before leering at the newest one. 

“Potions is one of the most hazardous and challenging subjects taught at this school.” Sharp’s usual limp seemed more exacerbated this year. “As fifth-years you will be required to reach new heights of discipline and intellect.” He stopped to lean near the chalkboard, “You will begin this term by brewing a Wiggenweld potion..” 

Sebastian knew what was coming and he purposely didn’t make eye contact with Sharp because of it.

“Mr. Thakkar. Tell us why this particular potion might come in handy.”

“Yes, Professor Sharp!” chirped the professor’s latest victim: another fifth-year Ravenclaw that Sebastian would do his utmost to avoid. “A Wiggenweld potion can be used to sterilize and even heal a variety of injuries.”

Sharp nodded. “It can heal some injuries..but not all. Points for Ravenclaw.” 

Amit Thakkar held his chin up a bit higher at the praise and made eye contact with Priscilla. She seemed to share in his joy and waved at him. Sebastian felt something ugly rear its ugly head at the sight and imagined someone forcing him to focus on the Dittany stems he was pulverizing. Garreth who was in the station in front of him already had his brewing along with Natsai who was to his left. Sebastian added his last drop of Horklump juice and watched as the potion turned into a deep indigo that flashed angrily. After a pinch of Dittany, the color tamed itself to a bright green and the flowers masked over the vile stench of the mushrooms. 

He made the mistake of glancing upwards just as Priscilla held up her completed Wiggenweld 

potion to present to Professor Sharp. Sharp took it from her, gave it a swirl and stared at the vibrant green liquid that moved within the vial. He gave it back with a curt nod. It was almost annoying how good she was at everything. Still, he couldn’t help but admire her.

He stole a glance at Ominis and despite his back being turned to Sebastian, he could tell his friend was having a rough go at it. “My Wiggenweld potion is utter rubbish,” Ominis muttered to himself. “Wish I could replace it with one from J. Pippin’s.” 

“Corvin,” Sharp called her without looking up from his paper. “Come here.” 

She dropped her potions book onto the desk and went over to the front of the classroom. Professor Sharp said something to her and she stood there nodding her head until she made a beeline towards him- Wait, no . She wasn’t coming towards him, she was headed for Sharp’s office. From the corner of his eye, he saw Garreth’s head perk up and moved to follow her. He tapped her on the shoulder and she whirled around, surprised. 

“Did I hear Professor Sharp say you have permission to go into his office?” he overheard Garreth say. 

“Yes..?” she responded slowly. “But why does that matter to you?”

Sebastian found himself smirking at her reply. 

“Brilliant!” Garreth’s voice lowered back into a hush. “And it matters because you could be part of something truly creative. I’m Garreth, by the way. Garreth Weasley. You’re Priscilla, correct?”

“Yes. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Oh, trust me. The pleasure is all mine .”

Sebastian gripped the handle of his ladle until his knuckles turned white. His ear strained to listen for more details, but Garreth’s voice was almost indistinguishable from the bubbling of his cauldron. 

“Listen, if you do this for me. How about I treat you? I’ll let you taste my latest concoction. You’ll be the first to know about it, I promise you.”

“Oh.. Well, I-”

Splash!  

“Sebastian!” Natsai exclaimed, her eyes widening at his cauldron. “You must be more careful!”

Sebastian looked down at his ladle which was nothing more than a handle as the lower half was sitting in his cauldron, the metal edges fizzing as it sank. “Blast,” he muttered before fetching another. As he did, he stole a glance towards Sharp’s office and noticed she was gone and Garreth reclaimed his position at his station. He had missed their conversation. What was she going to say? Did he actually want to know if she said yes? Sliding back onto his stool, he peered at Garreth who looked absolutely beside himself. Gryffindors and their cheek. Sebastian could’ve imagined what he said to the new fifth-year in some ploy to concoct the next worst thing since the last potions class they had together (He still never really got that smell from his robes since last time). 

The door shut and he watched her walk by their table and gave Natty’s shoulder a squeeze before sliding rather close to Garreth. His eyes honed in on something brightly colored nestled under the blanket of mongrel fur dyed orange with the casket of Ashwinder eggs nesting atop. Garreth whisked away whatever it was from her and gave her a wink . She returned the gesture and hurried back to her station, leaving Sebastian wondering why she didn’t squeeze his shoulder or give him a wink. 

Was he utterly repulsive (He doubted it)? Was he not friendly enough (Impossible)? Was Garreth Weasley, a Gryffindor, of all people simply better than him (Highly improbable)? 

Forcing himself to focus on his Wiggenweld assignment, he stirred until he heard Garreth mutter a quiet ‘uh-oh’ under his breath. Sebastian’s eyes shot up just as Natsai’s did, just in time to see something purple emerging from Garreth’s cauldron. It spewed and coughed before particles separated from the body and rose into the air in a spiral of multi-hued fireworks. The spiral spun faster and faster before jumping up and spreading everywhere it could spew its’ vile liquid. Something that reminded him of vinegar coupled with sewage had permeated the air. Good-Natured Natsai appeared patient, but he recognized the irritated tick in the space between her eyebrows. Everyone else didn’t bother hiding their displeasure at the foul odor coming from Garreth’s cauldron. 

“Garreth!” Amit tutted loudly, his voice muffled as he covered his nose and mouth with an arm. 

Imelda snorted. “Well done, Garreth.” 

Professor Sharp was the last to react. He didn’t bother looking at him, but instead had his face buried in his hand in utter disappointment. “What is it now, Mr. Weasley?”

“I-“ 

“10 points from Gryffindor. Again .” 

Sebastian watched Priscilla’s shoulder’s tense as she brewed her Edurus potion, and rightfully so. “Mr Weasley, didn’t do this on his own,” Sharp continued. “His accomplice will answer to me as well.”

Accepting her fate, she took her brew of Edurus and went up to Sharp to present it. Sebastian moved over where Ominis sat, pretending interest in his brew while keeping an ear out. 

“I’ve brewed the potion like you’ve asked,” she began carefully.

“I’m surprised you have the time.” Ah, there it is. That infamous Sharp wit. “You seemed rather busy helping Mr. Weasley brew chaos.” 

She wrapped her hands together in front of her. “I’m sorry about that, Professor. I was merely trying to help a friend.”

Sharp relaxed, seemingly pleased with her response. “Taking responsibility for one’s actions does go a long way with me. I shall assume you’ve learnt a lesson. As for the work you’ve done today at your own cauldron, I will say, you’ve done well. I confess I was skeptical, given the advanced nature of this class and the fact that you’re a new student.”

“I’m glad I was able to meet your expectations,” she smiled. 

“A rare occurrence. And you’d do well to remember that you’re not a Potions master quite yet.”

Ominis sighed. “Sebastian, will you-” But Sebastian was already helping him. He crushed his friend’s Dittany stems to a fine pulp and diced the Horklumps and poured them into the cauldron. 

“Now mix it carefully. Clockwise, Ominis, not counter.” He stayed there with him until the cauldron bubbled and changed into a sickly, vibrant green. He handed the vial to Ominis and watched as he poured the contents into a vial. They both presented their vials to Sharp at the same time and after giving them a gruff appraisal, they packed their things and hurried out of there. It was a funny thing, as they exited into the Central Hall, it already smelled a thousand times fresher. 

Sebastian lifted his sleeve to his nose and made a face. “I’m headed to the baths. My robes reek.”

“I would join you but I must start working on my essay for Arithmancy lest I lose the motivation.”

“I still can’t believe that out of all of the electives, you chose that one. You could have easily picked Divination.”

This time it was Ominis’s turn to make a face. “You know I don’t believe in that nonsense.”

“But it’s easy to fake. It could have been an easy grade for you.” When Ominis didn’t respond to that, Sebastian sighed. “Do you want me to at least wash your robe for you?” 

“No need. I have several others.” 

“Must be nice.”

They parted ways. Sebastian wasn’t exactly lying to Ominis when he told him he’d be going to the baths, because he was- he just wanted some time to think for a while (It was one of his favorite pastimes. Add in a book and you would have the recipe for his favorite day). He found respite on a bench near Hogwart’s northern exit and watched students fly overhead on brooms. A part of him felt envy at the sight of them zooming around as free as a hippogriff. 

Taking out his quill, he brushed the feather tip, worn from use, across the back of his hand. He did this repeatedly until he stopped. Why was there a sudden skip in his heart? The feather dragged across his hand again and he froze when he remembered why it made him feel like this. A similar sensation was felt when his hands touched with hers . On the way to Hogsmeade, in the library-

The northern doors opened wide and he saw Priscilla walk out. She was focused on something beyond the gate and he lurched forward with the intent to catch her intention. 

“Priscilla!” 

A head of red hair and a freckled face beat him to it.

Garreth ran to catch up to her just as she turned back to receive him. “Hello, Garreth. What’s the matter?”

“Oh, nothing. I was just going to ask if you have free time right now.” 

“I think I have some. Did you need something?”

“Come on,” he took her by the hand. “I want to show you something special.” 

Sebastian watched as Priscilla was pulled back into the castle by the Weasley boy and that envy he felt earlier blossomed into something far more insidious. “Bloody hell,” he muttered. He had no idea why he was feeling like this. ‘Something special’? What was it that Garreth needed so desperately to show her? It probably wasn’t even anything remotely unusual or unique. That’s it. He decided then and there to write a letter to Hogwart’s second finest duelist (after him, of course) and sent it off to her first thing upon returning to his dorm room. 

I’ll show her something truly special. 

***

It had been a few days until she responded. Sebastian was absolutely beside himself, much to Ominis’s irritation. “What are you fretting about for?” he had asked.

“Nothing,” Sebastian told him. “Just the upcoming review for Sharp’s class. If only I had some Felix Felicis.”

Ominis huffed. “Merlin knows I need that more than you do. Oh, I nearly forgot.” He reached for something in his pocket. “I was entrusted with this letter to give to you.” 

Sebastian nearly snatched it from his hands and felt his face light up when he recognized her writing on the back addressed to him. He ripped it open and read her response. 

‘I’ll be there .’

“That’s it?” he asked aloud.

Ominis chuckled. “Not what you hoped for? Were you expecting at least twelve inches of how she admires your cunning wit and dashing good looks?” 

“Don’t you have a review to study?” 

***

It was nearly midnight when Sebastian snuck out to the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower. He hid in the shadows waiting until he heard a set of footsteps that sounded nothing like the proud stomping of a prefect or professor. 

“Sebastian..!” He showed himself just as she nearly bumped into him. “Oh! There you are. You said you wanted to show me something?” 

“There you are,” he grinned. “It’s been a while. I nearly thought you'd forgotten about me.”

She returned the gesture. “You’re rather unforgettable, Sallow. I would never.” 

“First thing, I wanted to thank you for taking the fall for me in the library. You didn’t have to, but I appreciate it.”

“No worries. Honestly it wasn’t so much of a chore, additionally it gave me more time to search.”

“Did you find what it was that you’re looking for?”

“I did. But something was missing.. I’m not sure here is the best place to discuss it.”

“Understood. We can talk more in a moment, where the walls don’t have ears. This way.” He attempted to replicate what Garreth did and took her by the hand to lead. They made their way into a dark corner that sat underneath the stairs to Hecat’s classroom and made sure she was watching as he waved his wand at the cupboard that stood guard there. The dials on the moon and stars began to spin, turning until they became the sun and opened the way. “Ladies first.”

She stepped inside and Sebastian made sure no one was there before following her in. It didn’t matter how many times he stepped foot within the Undercroft, it always filled him with a sense of comfort and belonging. This was one of the only places he could go to where he could be himself. He hung back and watched as she searched the large dungeon with wide eyes. Four stone pillars held up arched stone ceilings followed with braziers that remained unlit and forced darkness upon them. 

“What is this place?” she breathed.

“The Undercroft,” he stated proudly. “Ominis found it and dubbed it so. We used to play gobstones here all the time, him and my sister Anne.” He found himself smiling at the memory of Anne’s shrieking laughter when Ominis became drenched in foul fumes. “She loved that infernal game..” What I wouldn’t give to lose to her again. 

He waited until she came closer. “I should tell you, Ominis made me swear to safeguard this place. So please, keep this between us. I wouldn’t want to jeopardize his trust. The professors don’t even know about it.”

She hummed. “Very secretive. Perfect for a getaway. Or a tryst.” 

Her back was now turned to him and he used the chance to sneak up on her, his voice dropping to a low whisper. “Precisely. This is the perfect place to sneak off to. Away from prying eyes.” He spoke as he circled around her until they were face-to-face. 

One side of her lips lifted to that mischievous smile he first saw on her face. Back to the day he was knocked off the dueling strip by none other. “Here I thought you would use this as a romantic hideout. No professors, no rules, no one else to see.” He wasn’t sure, but he imagined that her voice had almost turned into a purr at that last bit. 

“Well,” he forced himself to be nonchalant. “First time for everything. I want to show you something special. It’s one of my favorite spells: The Blasting Curse. The professors won’t teach it on account of them deeming it ‘inappropriate’, but I taught myself and it’s one of the most useful spells you could learn.” 

“If you’re offering to teach me, then by all means, professor .”

“Mimic my wand movement. The incantation is ‘Confringo’ .” He showed her first then watched as she coped him down perfectly. “You can practice on those braziers hanging above. Careful now. The first time Ominis and I used the curse, we singed our eyebrows off.”

She laughed. “I would have paid to see that.” Holding up her wand, she focused on the braziers and- “ Confringo !” All four braziers swung side-to-side as their insides were ignited. The familiar smell of burning oil and magical fire filled his nose and brought back pleasant nostalgia. Her wand lowered and her chest rose and fell with her excited breaths. A strand of her hair fell across her face and didn’t move back even when her breath moved it forward.

“How did it feel?”

“Hot-”

“You’ll get used to it.”

“-but exhilarating.” 

He smiled at her. “Good girl.” 

Against his better judgment, he moved forward to hold the stray piece of her hair. He focused only on the strands, and not on the fact that her lips were mere inches from his hand or that her eyes couldn’t decide to focus on his eyes or what he assumed were his own lips. His thumb ran over her hair, feeling the silkiness of it before tucking it behind her ear and feeling how hot her skin was against his own. They both stared at each other expectantly, waiting for something to happen.

This seemed to take her by surprise and she looked back at him, her words frozen on the tip of her tongue. Sebastian chuckled at her expression and committed her face to memory. “Besides what you found in the library, you were supposed to tell me which of the girls in the Ravenclaw tower were talking about me.”

“They didn’t say much,” she ran a hand over the piece of hair that he last touched. “Besides the fact that you’re an incessant flirt and always go looking for trouble. You would’ve made a perfect Head Boy if not for those traits.”

He held a hand to his chest, appearing to feign being mortally wounded. “I am not! This is slander!” Their laughter tapered off into silence.

“So-”

“I-” 

They had both spoken at the same time. Sebastian cleared his throat and held out his hand he withdrew from her face. “May I?”

She appeared both alarmed and confused. “What is it? Are you asking me to dance?”

“No, no, of course not. Why would I-” he noted the flash of hurt on her face. “I just noticed your hands were a bit scuffed in Herbology the other day. I have some salve here. Maybe it’ll help?” He held a small tin up. Priscilla blinked before gingerly taking the tin with two fingers without touching him in the slightest. “Consider it my gratitude for shielding me from Scribner’s wrath.”

“Thank you. I’ll be sure to put this to good use later,” she said as she pocketed it. Now it was his turn to look hurt. What happened to that moment they were having just now? Why hadn’t she wanted to touch him? Garreth had no issue getting handsy with her.

“Thank you for showing me the Undercroft. I’ll be sure to come here when I need to practice spells.” Neither of them had said anything for a while, so she took a step towards the exit. “I should probably head back to my common room. Good night, Sebastian.” 

Sebastian wanted to say something witty. Something so clever that it reared her attention and let her stay rooted to her spot. But instead of that, he managed with: “Of course. See you later.” He watched her leave and as soon as the grate closed noisily, he let out a frustrated growl. “‘See you later’?” he asked himself as he paced for a few moments, incredulously (As if he weren’t the one who had come up with that and said it aloud). “You’re an idiot!” 

“Yes, you are.”

Sebastian turned to see Ominis walking towards him, his eyes appearing like half-moons as anger aged his features. “Why in Merlin’s name would you tell her about the Undercroft?”

“I-”

“I don’t want to hear it! I trusted you, Sebastian. I trusted you with the secret of the Undercroft for a reason.”

“You didn’t seem to mind when Anne knew about it.”

“That’s different and you know it is. We’ve known each other for years. You’ve only just met her last week!”

Sebastian threw his hands up in the air in exasperation. “Look, Ominis, I’m sorry.”

“Sallow,” he tutted when he uttered Sebastian’s last name. He only used it when he was really serious. “How many times will you say ‘sorry’? How many times do you think people will easily forgive you?” 

When he didn’t reply. Ominis just sighed. “Forgive my tone. I would have been less irritated had she not try to lie about it too-”

Sebastian blinked. “She what?”

“Wipe that smile off your face. I know it’s there. And yes, she did try to, but with such a flimsy lie like that of course even I could see right through it. Claimed she ‘stumbled’ upon the Undercroft by her lonesome.” 

Ominis was right, he was smiling. There was something about having someone lie for you that made you trust that person more. He had a feeling she was someone he could trust and this solidified it for him.

***

Ominis was still upset with him after that. So much so that he outright ignored him in class and even when they were in their dorms and their beds were next to each other. Sebastian gave up for a while, looking for other things to distract him. That was how he found himself in the Restricted Section once more, taking extra care to come in at differing times as to not give anyone an idea of his schedule. He held his wand between his lips as he propped up a book next to him on the floor. 

“ Lumos !” The tip of the wand glowed and illuminated the pages brilliantly. Sebastian set the wand between his lips and began reading again. Every time he heard footsteps or any sort of noise, he would hide the tip of the wand underneath his cloak and wait to bring it out again. He sifted through the pages, reading through the words in exceeding speed until he reached the middle. He set it down and stretched his back, feeling the ache of an hours long reading session. Reading had always calmed him. A habit he picked up from his parents long before he could brandish a wand. It was an escape. A sort of magic that didn’t require any ability or practice to partake in. 

Sebastian rested his eyes and thought about the last few days. When he opened his eyes again, he reached over and grabbed his quill and a piece of parchment. He began writing a letter. Once he was done, he trekked quietly back to his common room, into his dorm, past a sleeping Ominis, and tied the letter gently to Ominis’s owl. A smart creature, with plumage that shared the same color as her master’s eyes. 

“Send this to Priscilla Corvin. A fifth-year in the Ravenclaw tower.” He whispered while handing the snowy owl a biscuit. “I’ll give you another when you’re back if you promise not to tell your master about this.” The owl seemed to acknowledge the bribe as it broke down the biscuit with its sharp beak. When its bribe was finished, it lifted its wings and flew out of the door Sebastian held open, gliding loftily and silent. 

***

Hogwarts Valley was typically battered by violent winds from the sea, making it colder than it needed to be. Even when he pulled the cloak across his chest, it somehow found a way to sneak up the large sleeves and blast him with a new chill. He shivered as he stood on the watchtower guarding Feldcroft with eyes transfixed on the castle that loomed over them from beyond. Even with its ruined towers and crumbling walls, there was still movement on the ramparts. Dwarfed figures walked there and sometimes even human-like shadows would patrol the edges. It put him on edge. In the corner of his eye, he saw something traveling quickly against the wind and turned to see her flying towards him while perched on a broom. She waved as she circled the tower then landed squarely on the platform beside him. He lifted his brow, impressed. “You’re a natural.”

She performed a small curtsy. “Thank you. Enjoying the view?” 

“Keeping an eye on things.” He pointed at the figures darkening the balconies of the castle. “No one’s been safe here since the loyalists got a hold of Rookwood castle. My uncle Solomon was a former Auror but refused to look into it- even after one of them cursed Anne!” 

Her expression was soft as he ranted. 

“That’s why I’m on a hunt for answers. If I’m to cure her, I need to understand what happened to her. She’s just not the same. Anne was the most mischievous of the three of us.”

“That’s saying something, considering the two of you.”

“She’d take that as a compliment, you know. Come on. I’m sure a surprise visit is just what she needs to get into good spirits again.” 

He led her down the watchtower and down the dirt path towards a small cottage. Flowers both big and small grew in the crevices of the stone along with vines that curled up towards the straw roof. Sebastian turned to her with a finger against his lips and opened the door with great care so as to not make a noise. He hunched over, tiptoeing over the wooden boards towards a slender figure sitting at a table. When he was closer, he jumped up to tickle her sides. The figure shrieked with laughter and twirled around to see him. That was when her smile grew. 

“Sebastian!” Anne threw her arms around his neck. “Where did you-” she stopped when she withdrew to see something held in his hand. A pink, bulbous fruit with petals at the top. “Is that..” 

A hand snatched it up. “We’ve been over this, boy-”

“Hey!”

“-Shrivelfigs cannot reverse a curse. Nothing can.” The fruit was held firmly between the hand of an older gentleman with graying hair and sullen features. He held his wand with the tip pointed at it. “The sooner you accept that, the better-”

Priscilla jumped in front of him, her head bowed down in subservience. “Mr. Sallow! I’m so very sorry. That was my idea to give Anne the Shrivelfig.” She looked up at him in earnest. “I’m a new student at Hogwarts you see, and Sebastian was my first friend, so when he told me about Anne I thought I could lend him some of the plants I grew.” 

Solomon’s face relaxed by a fraction. He stared at the fruit in his hand and sighed before grudgingly handing it back to her. “You needn’t let him get to your head about stories of a cure. I’ve already told him before. We’ve tried everyt-” he trailed off, his expression changing into one of mystified recognition. “You. Your face is familiar.” 

Sebastian watched her freeze up. “I.. With all due respect, Mr. Sallow, this is my first time meeting you. I don’t believe you’d recognize me anywhere.” 

His uncle posed to say more until Anne let out a small cry and set herself down on a chair. Solomon went to her immediately. “Anne! You must rest, we can’t have you up like this.”

“I’ll be fine,” she winced. “I just need something to numb it. Uncle, do you mind-?”

“Yes, of course.” He rushed out, not saying a word more to them. 

Sebastian took his place and knelt down in front of Anne. “Are you okay? Was it the pain?”

A grin grew on Anne’s face. “No. I just saw how our dear uncle was making your friend nervous so I sent him away.”

“Oh, Anne.” He wanted to laugh. “You’re horrible.”

Priscilla approached the two of them, her hands cupped around the Shrivelfig. She placed it gingerly onto Anne’s palm. “It wasn’t as if I was lying,” she confessed. “I do grow a lot of these.”

He raised a brow. “Where would you even have the room to do that?”

“Thank you,” Anne interrupted him and unfolded her shawl to wrap the fruit inside. “Sebastian told me all about you! I would hate to start Hogwarts so late, it seems like such a hassle.” 

“It’s certainly an experience,” she agreed. “I hadn’t lied about that either.” She caught his eye. “Sebastian really was my first friend there.” 

“Sebastian also tells me you used to stay in London?”

“Yes! In one of the apartments near Buckingham.”

Anne clapped her hands together in delight. “Oh I’d love to visit. It’s been so dreary in Feldcroft lately. I’ve always wanted to see the dresses the Muggles wear. They seem extravagant, but beautiful.”

She grinned. “I know where you could get fitted for one. Though I have to admit, the process was quite painful. There’s these things called corsets, you see..”

At this point Sebastian had taken a step back. Anne was smiling and laughing again like she used to. His sister held Priscilla’s hands as they talked and appeared like schoolgirls gossiping about who was the person they fancied the most in their class. 

“I’d love it if you could show me around London one day! We’ll get dresses and get.. What was it that you called it?”

“High tea.”

“Yes, high tea.”

“You promise?”

“I promise.” 

She held up a pinky towards Anne. “I believe Madam Kogawa said the Muggles in Japan used to do this with their friends whenever they promised something to each other. Like a seal of sorts.”

“How exciting,” Anne intertwined her pinky around hers. “Then you mustn't forget..” It was then her face fell and her hand flew to her stomach as she hunched over.

“Anne..?” She knelt down in front of her. “What is it?”

“It’s the curse,” Sebastian helped her sit up. “This time it’s the real thing.” 

Conveniently, Solomon returned with a vial of something green. He saw Anne hunched over and crossed over to her, helping her up and ushering her to bed. The older man motioned for the two of them. “I’m sorry you came all the way out here for a visit. But I must ask you to leave. She needs rest.” 

Sebastian didn’t say anything to him as he left. As soon as he exited the house, he made a beeline towards a path that would lead them up to where it happened. To where Anne was cursed. 

“Sebastian, wait!”

“I need to show you where it all started.” 

She caught up to him, breathless. “Wait. I need to ask: how are you doing?”

“You got a first-hand glance at what I’m dealing with,” he rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m sorry for my uncle’s behavior.” 

“I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting him to be so angry.”

“He’s always angry. He’s been angry ever since my parents died. After Anne was hurt, he only grew worse.” He took a deep breath. “He likes to call me ‘my father’s son’, as if that’s an insult.” The air around him suddenly seemed too thick. Too much. “I miss my sister. And I am going to get her back no matter the cost.” 

Sebastian continued up the path and this time she followed close by. They crossed the old stone bridge and ran up the hill, only faltering when he heard loud grumbling near the top of the plateau. Priscilla ran ahead of him, picking up the pace and brandishing her wand. Before he knew what was going on, she released a string of spells . 

“ Confringo! ”

“ Protego- Stupefy !”

Sebastian took out his wand and it seemed that this was the most opportune time to take out his frustration. “ Confringo ! Bombarda !” The goblins, short and ugly, flailed their weapons at them but were rendered useless under their magical shields.

There was a time he used to deem her wandwork unnecessary with the flair she imparted into her movements. But standing there and seeing her in action, he found that everything she did only contributed to the art. If magic was her muse, then she was the composer. A thundercloud rolled overhead despite the sun still shining down on them. It rumbled and moved at her command, producing lightning within and striking down the rest of the goblins blocking their way. As their bodies disappeared, transforming into ash and being swept up by the breeze- he couldn’t help but admire the fight despite how tiring it was.

“Sebastian!” He heard her call him and turned to see another goblin fling a knife towards him. “ Accio !” His body was pulled towards her, forcing the knife to miss its target. 

Over her shoulder, another rushed them with an axe raised over his head. “Behind you!” Sebastian grabbed her arm so that his wand didn’t hit her and had a clear shot. “ Incendio !” He waited until the goblin collapsed, his body slumping as the heat of the flame chipped away at his armor and body. 

“I confess:That was more than I bargained for.”

She agreed. “At least it’s over. Let’s go.”

Their search led them to the abandoned home that stood overlooking Feldcroft long before he was born. There were vague legends about this place. Through one of them he heard that a Hogwarts professor used to live here. He supposed it didn’t matter now. Everything that used to belong to the witch or wizard who resided here was now being dug up and tossed around. Goblin silver lay everywhere in droves and it only served to make Sebastian angrier. Goblins. And so close to home. Why hadn’t his uncle even made an effort to drive them off further? 

“Over here!” He followed her voice and saw what she was talking about. A painting lay inside with the face and body burned off. “What do you make of this?”

“It could be what started the fire that night.”

“What?”

“A fire happened the night Anne was cursed,” he explained. “Anne saw at least a dozen goblins and one of them spoke to her: ‘A child should be seen, not heard’.”

“What they did to Anne is too much of a punishment for simply being at the wrong place at the wrong time. They’re hiding something.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

Her eyes fell onto a stack of rubble on the wall. She pointed her wand. “ Depulso !” The rocks blasted away, revealing a crawl space. Sebastian watched as she ducked in first and followed her through to another rundown section of the house. Though this one led to a set of stairs that descended into the basement. Once again, she took the lead and quickly murmured ‘ Lumos!’. He had the feeling that this wasn’t the first time she explored anywhere alone.

“Careful,” she warned. “There’s Devil’s Snare here.” 

Sebastian lit his wand just in time to see the black vines creeping down from the ceiling. He was careful not to hit his head on any of them while following her deeper into the basement. Paintings, chandeliers, antique jewelry and pots lay about in troves- there were still remnants of dust and cobwebs on them. 

“Why leave all this here? They must be looking for something else far more important.”

She held up a piece of paper, scanning through it. Realization reflected on her eyes and Sebastian couldn’t help but ask. “You still haven’t told me what’s been going on. Ranrok and Rookwood have it in for you don’t they? It wasn’t an accident that the troll came through Hogsmeade.” When she swallowed her words, he knew his theory had been right. “You can trust me, plus, you might need me.” 

She took a deep breath. “Alright. I’ll tell you everything. Out of everyone, at least you deserve to know.” She began filling his head with all the details from the start of her school year to the present. It started at Gringotts where she and Professor Fig ended up via portkey, it was also why they were late to the Sorting Ceremony. She then described Ranrok using some sort of magic that-

“Hang on a minute. ‘ Ancient magic ’? And you can see traces of it?”

“Yes. Let me explain-”

Ancient magic was evidently something wielded by a select few, including the professor that used to own this house. Her name was Isidora Morganarch. Isidora , alongside five others, were dubbed Keepers as they safeguarded-

“‘Keepers’? As in Quidditch? I’m not following.”

She stifled a laugh. “No. Not like Quidditch. You see..”

She told him more of the memories she witnessed and how it led to her journey across the valley to find more remnants of the Keeper’s power and legacy they left behind.

“So that’s why you come to class with your hands like that.”

“I suppose it does get dangerous out there when you’re alone.”

“Why haven’t you asked me to come along with you? You know I would.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Her explanation was finished when she told him of the trials she was forced to endure. Alone. Each one provided her with more memories of the Keepers and how it was necessary for her journey.

“So let me get this straight: You have Ranrok and Rookwood after you over something you found in Gringotts- where you ended up via a portkey.”

“Yes.”

You can see traces of an ancient magic that you think Ranrok is trying to harness. And now you’ve been witnessing memories left behind by Keepers?”

“Correct.”

“Oh! And this house belonged to a Hogwarts professor- who was one of these non-Quidditch keepers- hundreds of years ago.”

“Perfect. Ten points to Slytherin.”

“You must be enjoying this journey for knowledge, Ravenclaw.”

“It’s exhausting actually, thanks.”

She relaxed her shoulders, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of them. They continued their search until Sebastian heard her call his name again. She brought his attention to a slab of stone with gilded edges making up the frame. He couldn’t see anything save the surface, but it seemed she saw something more. 

“I can see the Undercroft!” 

He raised a brow. “Like a daydream? Because that happens to me too.”

“No. This might sound strange-”

“Honestly? Nothing you say sounds strange to me anymore.”

“Fair enough. I can see the Undercroft through this stone- as if it’s a window. We could travel through here if we wanted.” 

To his surprise, he saw her hand go through the surface of the stone as if it were water. He thought about it. A new magical discovery should have excited him more than he was now. And yet.. “Perhaps we can try it out later.” 

“Are you still upset about earlier?”

“A bit. I was happy seeing you and Anne together, but my uncle..” The memory of Solomon snatching the Shrivelfig from him sent something white and hot through his system. “He makes me furious. He’s so quick to give up on everything! He claims he did all he could for Anne, but I say different. I say there’s still more options we haven’t tried.” He began pacing. “I don’t want to burden you with this. I should head back. Let’s go through the stone.”

She had her hands wrapped around each other. “Actually, I was hoping we could fly back. There are some things I need to think about, and a trip on a broom usually helps.” It was a tempting offer and he was quiet as he ruminated over his options. “I’m sure the wind will feel lovely,” she insisted. “You can ride with me.” Something in her eyes made him rethink his decision. “It’ll help clear your mind.” 

He relented and followed her upstairs to the open air. “Alright. So long as you don’t mind.” 

“Not at all.” She reached for the space under her arm, pulling something out from the nothingness until the handle of a broom was visible in her grip. It appeared before her, floating just high enough so that they could mount. 

“Hang on,” he frowned as realization dawned on him. He was too occupied to even think on it earlier. “How did you manage to get your own broom?” The stock of the broom’s shaft wasn’t shabby at all. In fact it looked brand new. Polished and ingrained with gold filigree, with the bristles combed back into a smooth and tight coil. “Did Professor Fig buy it for you?”

She shook her head. “I have my own money I.. earn. I wouldn’t want to bother Professor Fig with it, considering everything he’s already done for me.” Swinging her leg over it, she scooted a bit closer to the front and gestured for him to do the same. Sebastian followed, sitting so close to the tail end that some of the bristles had spiked up through the fabric of his pants. Without warning, she kicked off and he lurched forward, arms reaching to grab anything solid and safe, which inevitably, was her waist. Sebastian wasn’t sure at the time, but he thought he felt her body tense at the contact. Did his touch revolt her that much?

As Feldcroft became smaller and smaller until it looked nothing more than a shrunken model, Sebastian felt the weight on his heart lift. The drifting breeze passed by his arms and ruffled his hair. It smelled like the valley; fresh and verdant. He found himself closing his eyes, relishing the feel of rushing wind that whipped against his face. He hadn’t flown on a broom in so long (Discounting Madam Kogawa’s class, of course)- and his uncle didn’t seem to see the benefit of purchasing one for him given his record in school. ‘Why should I reward bad behavior?’ he had said when Sebastian asked for one. 

“Sebastian..” her voice caught a ride on the wind, drifting back to his ears like a soft melody. “Would you like to get a butterbeer with me? I’ll buy for the both of us.”

“Another day, maybe. I still would like some time alone to think. I need to talk to Ominis about this.” 

“Of course.” 

She didn’t say anything else, and he got the idea that he disappointed her. The broom tilted downwards as they flew underneath a large cloud that drifted their way. 

“You know. You’re like my own personal Patronus charm,” he said. 

“I’m sorry?”

“You try to take the blame for things that were my fault. Like at the library..and just now- with my uncle.” 

“I didn’t mean to be intrusive. I-” she sighed. “I just don’t think you deserve to be hurt, Sebastian.” Something within him clicked. As if his insides were kindling, waiting to be sparked and sparked they were. It warmed his entire body, his soul included. 

In the distance, Hogwarts’ familiar towers came into view. They skimmed the Black Lake, their hands outstretched to feel the water lick at their fingers before rising upwards to fly past the clock tower that chimed to let them know it was now five in the evening. She urged the broom to descend at the courtyard at the base of the clock tower and before he knew it- their flight was over. He thanked her and hopped off in a clumsy manner. She was kind enough not to comment on it.

“See you later?” A question. She should already know the answer by now. As long as trouble found them, they’d be able to find each other.

“Of course.” He smiled up at her and watched as her broom carried her back up into the sky. The figure flew further and further away until it was nothing more than a black dot in the vast blue.

***

Sebastian regretted not taking her offer for butterbeer. It was much more preferable to whatever it was that he was going through right now with Ominis. When he got back from Feldcroft, he had admitted that he knew about their house founder’s secret scriptorium and he wanted to see if it had anything that could help reverse dark magic. Ominis’s answer was infuriatingly simple (‘No’). It didn’t deter him in the slightest. He would ask daily, and often. Their arguments grew to such heights in volume that even other students were beginning to notice. 

“No. You don’t know what you’re asking for. This is not a simple mistake you can just walk away from if the grievances get too high!”

“I know what you’re saying, but just hear me out. Nothing else worked, what if this is the only way? If you won’t do this for me, then at least do it for Anne.”’

Ominis’s expression softened at the mention of her name. But he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I can’t do it. I won’t speak anymore of this either.”

Sebastian groaned, pacing back and forth until he saw a familiar figure. He looked up just in time to see Priscilla about to take a seat at the Ravenclaw table. Their eyes met and he motioned her over. 

“There’s something I need your help with. Will you hear me out?”

***

“Keep an eye out, we never know who’s watching. Although that’s never stopped us before.”

“Strictly speaking it has. We were caught.”

“Damned poltergeist. Such a nuisance.. Oh, there he is! Good luck.”

Sebastian ducked behind a corner as he urged her to walk on without him. She looked back at him, uncertainty crossed all over her face. Finally she relented and approached Ominis, who was pacing back and forth, muttering to himself. His friend perked up at the noise.

“What are you doing here?”

“How did you-”

“Your perfume. Well? Spit it out. What is it that you and Sebastian have been up to now?”

Sebastian held his breath to listen better, but he only heard earnest whispering and a familiar sullen tone. There was silence for a bit before there was a heavy sigh. “Come out, Sebastian. I know you’re there.” As he came closer, he gave her an appreciative wink. “These braziers grant access to the Scriptorium.”

“Now you’ll share? You wouldn’t tell me when I practically begged.” 

“It wasn’t you who told me what I needed to hear. Now, opening the entrance has something to do with threes..”

“Well. Three heads are better than one.”

“It’s two heads are better than one,” Ominis corrected him. 

“And by that logic, three is better than two. Simple mathematics, Ominis. And here I thought Arithmancy was actually something you were good at.”

“Do shut up.”

As Sebastian teased him, he watched her eyes light up, like a snake hiding in the thrush and spotting her prey. She held her wand out. “ Confringo! ” All three braziers were lit and something had moved behind Ominis. The bricks in the wall shifted, all of them collapsing into each other before revealing a pitch black corridor. 

Sebastian grinned wildly. “You’re getting rather good at that spell.”

“It’s quickly becoming one of my favorites,” she admitted. 

“Well since you’re becoming quite efficient at it. I daresay you probably no longer need me, my dear student.”

“Nonsense. I might need my teacher to show me other things that I could be efficient at.” 

Sebastian’s stomach moved as if someone cast Flipendo on him. 

“I assume you taught her in the Undercroft?” There was a hint of suspicion in Ominis’s voice. “What did she singe? Her eyebrows? Her hair?”

“No,” Sebastian said. “Just my ego. She learns perfectly.”

“It’s because I had excellent help.” She walked past them with her wand held upwards. “ Lumos !” The corridor appeared a bit more welcoming in the presence of light. She moved in first, then Sebastian, then lastly, Ominis. They were greeted with a staircase that descended downwards into a spiral. 

“I hope we’re ready for this,” Ominis muttered. 

It was strange. The moment they entered, Sebastian felt as if his body had been plunged into an icy lake. A cool chill settled on his skin and scuttled up his arms like a spider. 

“Well, well.” Sebastian let out a low whistle. “Dark, ominous corridors. My favorite.” 

His best friend sighed, disappointed. “No comment.” 

“Come on, that was a good one.” 

The bricks behind him closed, encasing them in darkness and purging out what light they had left save for the one that was cast with a wand. He saw Ominis’s body shudder as they descended deeper until they came across another door. Two silver snakes were coiled tightly around each other, sitting underneath a large silver disk that contained an emblem of even more coiled creatures. He hasn’t the slightest idea how to get it open. It didn’t even have a handle. 

Priscilla was kneeling down besides pieces of broken stone. “I’ve found something,” she announced. “A journal entry. Signed by Noctua Gaunt.”

Sebastian’s eyes rounded. “‘Gaunt’? Ominis- your family was here.”

“I know,” he replied, his voice careful. “She was my aunt.” 

“ Reparo! ” She had already begun fixing the stone mural on the ground. The pieces flew upwards until they touched the wall in the positions they were in before falling into disrepair. 

“ Lumos !” Sebastian held his wand up and found clarity to what it was depicting and at the same time, he wasn’t sure if he was hearing things, but he swore he could hear something in the dark. Something hissing. “The rubble formed a relief of a person facing a snake.” 

“That must be the voice I hear,” said Ominis. “The voice is ancient- sinister.”

She looked alarmed. “You hear a voice?”

“It started when you repaired that relief. I heard a voice saying ‘speak to me’.” Ominis seemed to fidget. “I’m..I’m a Parselmouth. I can hear and speak to snakes.” This wasn’t news to Sebastian, but he did relish the look of astonishment on her face at least. “Nearly all known Parselmouths are a direct descendent of Salazar Slytherin.”

What he wasn’t expecting though, was her response. “I’d like to be able to talk to snakes.”

“You might not want the ability to speak Parseltongue. It’s often associated with Dark wizards. I haven’t spoken it in ages, but I’d wager if I speak it now the door will open..” He paused. “I’m hoping you’re having second thoughts.” 

“Believe me. I am having thoughts, second and third- but I’m still convinced we should go ahead,” her voice was soft and filled with empathy. Sebastian was beginning to see why Ominis was quick to confess to her. 

Ominis sighed. “It’s ironic. I vowed to leave the Dark Arts alone when I left home.” A tinge of guilt appeared in Sebastian’s body but just as it appeared quickly, it soon fled when thoughts of Anne filled him. This was necessary. This was something he had to do. “Stand back- oh, I can’t believe I’m doing this..”

A strange hissing came from his friend. Indistinguishable from the ones that came from the walls. It seemed to appeal to the door as the coiled snake’s eyes glowed a vibrant green. Their silver bodies traveled upwards and encircled the disc on the door, opening the way. 

“It worked!” She seemed impressed. “Ominis, you possess a rare ability indeed.”

Sebastian agreed. “Between the two of you I’m starting to feel left out.”

Ominis’s head turned towards the sound of his voice. “‘Between the two of us’?”

Priscilla met Sebastian’s eyes, alarm evident on her face. Her head gave a small shake. “I-,” he coughed. “N-nevermind..” Thankfully, Ominis didn’t press and they headed further into the darkness. When Sebastian expected some sort of room behind the door, he was instead greeted with more dark corridors. “There’s no clear way forward.”

“Like a maze,” Ominis seethed. “Salazar Slytherin likely wanted this to be difficult to solve-”

The door behind them slammed shut and though he didn’t expect it to get darker than it is, it did just that. Both he and Priscilla cast Lumos together. “The door we came from isn’t budging,” Sebastian announced. “But there’s more than one gate ahead.” 

“Then look closely at each gate for clues,” came Ominis’s voice. 

“Sebastian,” he felt a tug on his sleeve. “I think these are braziers on the walls, would you help me light them?”

“Who am I to deny my precious student a request?” he whispered back. Shaking away the light at the tip of his wand, Sebastian focused on the anonymous shapes on the wall. “ Confringo !” It didn’t give them as much light as they hoped, but it was something. They must have sounded like utter fools to Ominis, who stood there blissfully unbothered by the lack of light. 

“There’s a dial here!” she called from beyond a gate that was stuck halfway. “I think-” Something hissed loudly before the sound of something fleshy being struck was heard. 

Ominis turned in the direction of the noise. “That didn’t sound good. Are you alright?”

He frowned. “Salazar Slytherin didn’t make this easy.” 

Silence. More hissing. Then another noise further in was heard. It sounded like something moved. Sebastian moved towards the gate he last saw her slipping into and waited. She reemerged, nearly bumping into him and attempted to move away until he saw something dark stain her face. Sebastian grabbed her robe to move her closer in order to see better. “What happened?”

“Nothing,” she wiped the stain off of her face. “The snake on the dial struck me, that’s all. But I think I unlocked one of the gates.”

“I’ll do the next one.”

“No!” she grabbed onto his arm. “It’s alright, I can take it. I’ve been through worse.” 

Ominis followed their voices. “What happened? Are you alright?”

“She’s bleeding.”

“I’m fine. Trust me. A troll hits harder.” 

“I’m doing the next one,” Sebastian stated firmly. “I insist.” He wouldn’t have any of her disagreements and moved to find the next snake dial. As he began moving it around, she heard her in the distance. 

“Noctua’s journals reference painful and arduous challenges-”

Sebastian held his breath as the silver snake on the dial reared its head towards him. But instead of lashing out, it moved its head down to its body just as something in the distance clicked.

“-but also rewards.”

“Painful,” said Ominis. “That’s the part I’m wary of.”

“All I heard were rewards,” added Sebastian as he rejoined the others. “Let’s keep going.”

The gate screeched as it dragged upwards into the stone. Sebastian could see something ahead. Another door with no handle- but this one, much to his chagrin, seemed to contain carved faces twisted in agony. Just as Ominis stepped through the gate, the gate slammed shut behind him and refused to budge even as his friend tried to shake it. 

“I think we’re locked in,” he stated grimly. “Again.”

“Then Salazar Slytherin is not yet finished with us..!”

Both her and Sebastian approached the end of the short hallway as the braziers lit aflame by themselves. His eyes were transfixed on the door as hers was on something that lay in pieces by it.

“A skeleton..” she picked up the piece of paper that lay next to the remains. “Ominis.. There’s Noctua’s final journal entry right next to it. She mentions being trapped here, blocked by an Unforgivable curse.”

Sebastian immediately looked to the door again and the glowing writing on the floor. In crude, cut out letters, it had spelled out: Crucio. A chill colder than Salazar’s dungeon had set within him. It was so clear on what they had to do. 

“This. Is where she died.. This is where we’ll die.” Ominis began pacing back and forth again. “I shouldn’t have listened to either of you!” 

“Ominis,” said Sebastian. “I’m truly sorry about your aunt, but I know what to do. It’s going to be difficult.” She saw what he was looking at, her eyes glazed over with worry. It seemed like she understood what needed to happen, but he continued anyways to make it clear for Ominis the importance of the task. “Tortured faces on the door and Crucio’s etched into the stone. My guess is that if we cast the curse the door will open. That’s probably why Noctua was trapped, she had no one to cast it on.” He stole a glance at his friend who was still pacing by the other gate, hands balled into tight fists as he clenched and unclenched them. “Ominis has the most experience with this. He should cast it. Since you seem to be in his favor, maybe you should ask him.”

She bit down on her bottom lip, unsure of what to do. “I suppose. He does seem cross with you.” 

“Good,” he tried to assure her with a smile. “Work your ‘magic’, so to speak.” 

Ominis stopped pacing. “I can still hear you, you know!”

“Ominis-” Priscilla started. “I hadn’t imagined we’d be trapped in here.”

“Salazar Slytherin did. He’s to blame for many unimaginable things. I won’t do it. The Cruciatus curse is pure torture, I would know.”

“Sebastian told me a little of what happened when you were young,” she offered. “You didn’t have a choice.”

Ominis shook his head. “I should’ve known he would’ve told you. And one always has a choice!” he sniffed. “I’m as guilty as the worst of my family..” He started pacing again, hands wringing each other with worry. “Unforgivable Curses won’t work unless you really mean them. I had to want to cause pain and for that I shall never forgive myself. That spell is the reason I have no family left! You and Sebastian must sort this out yourselves, I want no part of it.”

Priscilla looked to Sebastian and gave a quick shake of her head. Sebastian felt a slight flare of frustration. “This is ridiculous. We’ll die in here if we don’t cast it!” he started towards Ominis and attempted to speak more calmly. “What if one of us gave you permission- what if I gave you permission?”

Ominis frowned. “I refuse. One of you must cast it on the other if you insist on going through with this.” 

Sebastian let out a groan then turned to her. “Then it’s up to us. I can teach you Crucio, or I can cast it on y-”

“Wait.” She looked surprised. “You didn’t say you knew how to cast Crucio.”

“Because I don’t know if I do. Ominis knows that, but he’s left us no choice.” It looked like she was mulling things over in her head still and the gears inside her head seemed fully visible to him. “Listen here, Ravenclaw. If it makes you feel better, you can cast it on me. You must be curious, right? It’ll be easy for you. You pick up spells faster than anyone I’d ever seen. What’s that thing you birds in the tower always say? ‘In the pursuit of knowledge’ or whatnot.”

“It’s ‘wit beyond measure is man’s greatest treasure’.” She frowned, then shook her head slowly. “I can’t.”

“Come on. You-know-who has it in for you. It’d be wise to learn this. Just in case.” Ominis listened dutifully as he bit the nail of his thumb. When she didn’t seem convinced, he leaned forward to whisper in her ear so that only she could hear. “Goblin silver won’t be able to block this spell. I think it would help you a lot.” 

She pondered a bit before replying. “Alright, fine. I’ll do it.” 

He smiled and whispered again. “Good girl.” 

Similar to the Blasting Curse, she was quick to pick up on the wand movement as if it were already something known to her. It did take some coaxing on Sebastian’s part as he held her hand in his to guide her through the motions. Once she set her wand down, she looked to Sebastian. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to hurt you. You need to cast it on me.” 

“Don’t be sorry. I think I can cast it if I need to.” A part of him screamed at himself not to while another part questioned her decision. Did she think he was capable of hurting her? Did she think it would be easier for him to hurt her? 

Just before he stepped away, he saw that a strand of her hair had fallen onto her face. He reached forward to tuck it back behind her ear. “Ready?” he asked softly. 

She tried to give him her best smile. But it couldn’t hide the fear in her eyes. She looked so scared and the worst part was that she attempted to appear brave- for him . “I’m ready.”

“ Crucio !” 

Red lightning struck her and forced her onto her knees, a muffled groan coming from her as she balled her hands into fists. Sebastian gripped his wand firmly. If only he didn’t need to look at her face, this would have been easier. He thought of the moment in the Undercroft, the library, her laughing with Anne-

The curse lightened, threatening to disappear as the red lightning diminished. The door still didn’t budge. Salazar Slytherin demanded more.

“ Crucio !” 

“Gggah..” She moaned, clutching her stomach as she was reduced to a fetal position on the floor. The sound of a hundred chirping birds nearly silenced her cries as the red lightning crossed her body in repeated laps. 

“Sebastian!” Ominis cried. “You must stop!”

“Nnn-ooo!!” She struggled to form the words. “Theee- ddddoorrrr.. not.. openinggg! Don’t.. stopp.. Not noww-“

The hissing in the walls grew louder, urging him. It still wasn’t enough. The payment was insufficient. Sebastian forced himself to imagine that he hated her. Horrible images came to mind. His hands around her throat, forcing the breath from her. Watching the life drain from her eyes.. She wasn’t a person to him. He hated her. He hated her. He hated her. 

HE HATED HER. 

“ Crucio!!! ” 

Finally, she screamed. 

From the corner of his eye he saw Ominis hunched over, his hands over his ears as her screams echoed in the narrow hallway. Finally, the red lightning slammed against the door and against the tortured faces that screamed alongside her. The metal molded and groaned before it collapsed onto the floor like slime. Sebastian was holding his breath, his eyes going from the door to her body that writhed on the floor. 

“Are you-”

Are you alright?” Ominis’s panicked voice overpowered his. 

“I’m..fine,” she stammered, using the wall to hold herself up. “G-goo… Let’s just.. Find..what we..” She stumbled back just as Ominis held his arms out to catch her. He cushioned her fall and spoke to her in hurried whispers to which she replied in a thick, tired voice. 

Sebastian hurried on. He was standing in a place no one had stepped foot in since perhaps the founder himself. It was truly an honor. There were still many personal effects left behind, including a set of drinking ware and quills with inkpots that have long since dried up. He took it all in wonder. To the snakes carved onto the wall, to the thick carpet that cushioned his boots. His eyes finally rested on the large face looming before him. A thick beard was carved from face until the ends formed snakes that looked as if they were about to strike at him. But he wasn’t scared, not one bit. Curiosity led him further. For underneath the statue was a leather-bound book. Sebastian picked it up, rifling through the pages and saw the amount of writing in it. Decades worth of Salazar’s knowledge was right there, in his hands. Everything he knew about the Dark Arts was right here. It was almost as if it was destined to be found by him. 

“Sebastian!” Ominis was calling his name, he knew that. But for some reason, it sounded distant. The likeness of Salazar Slytherin peered at him, his eyes aged from materials thousands of years old. A smile snaked onto his face. He did it. He found it. “ Sebastian!! ” An urgent voice broke him out of his spell and turned to see what it was that needed so much attention. 

Ominis was on the ground, holding Priscilla’s unconscious body in his arms.

“She’s not waking,” Ominis’s voice trembled as he shook her gently. “Oh for the love of Merlin, I never should have listened to you two.. Wake up, wake up, please !!” He looked beside himself. “We must take her to the matron immediately.”

“No,” Sebastian fidgeted in his spot. “We can’t! They’ll be sure to find out what happened to her then what? We’ll all be expelled.”

“I’m sure my father can cover for us.”

“Not for this. You know I’m right, Ominis. If we take her to the hospital wing, they’ll ask questions that’ll give them answers they won’t like. Listen to me,” Sebastian forced his voice to be softer, “you’ve told me that after they cast the curse on you and you to them, they rested and woke up the next day fine. I’m sure the same will happen again with her.”

Ominis still looked unconvinced with his tone dipping into that of annoyance. “Are you suggesting we leave her here!? After all, I’m sure that Salazar Slytherin made his study as comfortable and safe as possible.”

“No! Of course not!”

“It’s late,” Ominis was biting the nail of his thumb now. “Though we could still drop her off near the Ravenclaw’s tower.”

“And risk running into a prefect- or worse? Even if we were to manage that, I’ve barely the strength to solve some blasted riddle after climbing all of those stairs.”

“Then where? If not there.. The Slytherin Common Room is close. She can use your bed.” 

“Oh, you must be joking.”

“ I wasn't the one who cast an Unforgivable on her.”

“She gave me her permission!”

“That does not make it alright, Sebastian. This was your fault and now you have to take responsibility.”

Ominis listened to Sebastian struggling to pick her up and tutted impatiently. “Are you perhaps short a gobstone?! You’re a wizard! Use a spell!”

“Oh would you stop yelling at me ! The worst is over, so calm do-”

“Do not tell me to calm down.” Ominis was mere seconds away from hyperventilating. “And the worst is not over, not yet.”

“..What do you mean?” 

“Some who endured the Cruciatus curse once may have side effects. And you, Sebastian, cast it a multitude of times on her.”

There was a cold sweat on his brow. “So?”

“You daft git,” Ominis hissed. “I’ve told you- countless times! There are consequences to Unforgivables! For all we know, her body might have shut down completely and when she wakes up, if she wakes up, she might not even know her own name or anything at all!!” At this point, Ominis’s voice was so shrill, it took up more space than he would’ve liked in the stone scriptorium. It first landed on Sebastian’s ears, bounced off the walls and hit him once more just to add to his irritation. 

The reality of the situation crept up on him as a thief in the night. He knelt down and shook her shoulders. “..Priscilla?” Nothing. He shook harder. “Can you answer me? Priscilla?” Taking her face in his hands, he leaned forward and turned his ear to face her. Her skin felt cold against his and, slowly but surely, a raspy breath was heard. “She’s okay,” he said aloud, more for himself than Ominis. “She’s breathing.”

“Now if only you can check if her mind is still intact.”

“Are you going to help me or are you going to stand there?” Ominis was losing whatever composure he usually had, just as Sebastian was losing his patience. “Let’s just focus on the first task, finding a place for her to sleep it off.”

Sebastian knelt down on one knee, hooking his arms under hers and pulled her up. “I don’t suppose any of the girls would be willing to hide her in their dorms?” There was a possibility Imelda could do it for him. She owed him for the time he prevented Professor Black from disposing of her broom entirely after she complained (to put it lightly), publicly, about how inept their new headmaster was after canceling Quidditch for the year. 

“If you want to try and wake them up just to ask, then be my guest. It’s more likely they’ll report us instead.” There was snark to his voice, which meant Ominis had almost completely calmed down and returned to his usual self. “And it’s not as if we could sneak her into the girl’s dorm even if we wanted to.” 

Sebastian attempted sneaking into the girl’s dormitory at least twice during his time here. Once, he attempted to sneak Anne some sweets that he’d pilfered from Weasley’s office; the second, he wanted to visit another girl he fancied to bring her a gift from a ‘secret admirer’ (Yours truly). Both times, the stairs up to the dorms transformed into a slippery surface and sent him sliding back down into a pack of laughing students. “It’ll only be for a night. It shouldn’t be too much trouble.” I think . 

Sebastian held out his wand. “Wingardium Leviosa!” Her body lifted from the ground with her arms falling limp at her sides. He gulped. She almost looked like a corpse. “Let’s go. There has to be a way out of here somewhere. Her body followed him up the stairs, floating quietly as he investigated the study. His hand touched every surface and if not for the situation at hand, he would have relished the fact that he was standing where Salazar himself paced about years before they were ever conceived. It sent gooseflesh up his spine just thinking about it. 

“I’m sure there’s another way out of here,” Sebastian muttered. He took one look at her and decided to take a page from her book. “ Revelio !” The walls lit up for a brief moment before returning back to normal. It was short-lived, but long enough for him to see something shimmering behind a statue of a head with a snake emerging from its mouth. He placed a hand on it and watched with relief as it spun around to reveal an empty space behind it. “Look! I think our luck is changing.”

“We are lucky! We could have died!” Ominis guided himself as well as her safely into the exit. “We must swear to never do this again!” 

“..Of course.” Sebastian patted the inside of his cloak, making sure Slytherin’s spellbook was still tucked there securely. 

The statue led them up, spitting them out close to the entrance to the Slytherin dormitory. Sebastian held his breath, listening if there was anyone else coming back to the common room late too. When there was no one, they moved forward. “Wait,” Sebastian whispered, pulling her body closer to him to cast the Disillusionment Charm on her. “Ominis- the door.” 

Ominis walked ahead of them. “Aspiration.” The large snake carved into the stone floor slithered upwards until its body formed into an arch. Underneath the scales, a door appeared and Ominis pried open both sides. Sebastian gathered her in his arms, her body made light by the spell, and carried her through. 

“Carefully now,” Ominis whispered with his hand guiding her legs through the door. 

“You think?” 

They were careful descending the stairs, listening for stray sounds of other students that were still up or anything that could see them and possessed some sort of sentience. Which, honestly, was almost everything in this school. 

Ominis’s ear perked at every sound he could hear, speeding up and slowing down when necessary. Usually Sebastian loved the metal grates that allowed him to see the water from the Black Lake running underneath their dorms, but now he dreaded it as they echoed loudly under his footsteps. Ominis must have thought the same thing, since he turned on his heels to point his wand at Sebastian’s legs and uttered: “ Silencio !” 

Ominis opened the door to their dorm and poked his head inside to hear the snoring of the other two students that stayed with them. Sebastian followed him inside, stepping in sideways to make sure no part of her hit the frame on the way in. Even if she was nearly invisible, he still felt her. Even through his school cloak he felt the tresses of her hair tickle him and the warmth of her body against his. A warmth that seemed to quickly fade. 

Near their beds, Ominis held his wand up. “Protego totalum. Repelo-”

“What are you doing?”

Ominis didn’t stop until he was finished. “I don’t fancy having any of the boys in our room wake up to see the new fifth-year unconscious in our beds, do you?” He was already slipping off his shoes. “This way when they look over here, they won’t see or hear anything but us nor could they even walk within our general vicinity.” 

Sebastian laid her out on the bed, erasing the charm from her and seeing her face. It looked like she was sleeping peacefully. He took her wrist, resting his fingers across her wrist and felt relief when a pulse was still there. He gave her a once over (respectfully so) and decided to take her shoes off before covering her with a blanket. Her wand slipped out of her robes and he took it, placing it next to his on his nightstand before changing out of his own robes. After he scrubbed his face in the basin and Ominis was getting comfortable in bed, he hid the spell book somewhere prying eyes couldn’t see and even charmed it for good measure. A part of him felt embarrassed about changing despite knowing she wouldn’t wake, but a part of him still urged to look back at her to check when he began unbuttoning his shirt. Once in his sleepwear, he started constructing a sort of pillow fort to separate their bodies. 

It wasn’t very comfortable though there wasn’t much choice. He was never very good at transfiguration, and it’s not as if he could conjure up a bed right next to his. Professor Weasley already talked his ear off about it once already (“Transfiguration or any sort of modification spell is strictly forbidden within school grounds!”). He adjusted himself so at least half of his body wasn’t lingering off the bed and forced himself to try and get some rest. 

***

Sebastian woke twice in the middle of the night. The first time, he woke feeling relieved. He felt comfortable, but a part of him told him he shouldn’t be as he was sleeping peacefully in the middle of his bed. Something that smelled like perfume had wafted into his nose and he blinked. Something wasn’t right. He looked down and was met with a nose full of hair. Her hair. 

Somehow in the middle of the night, the pillow fort was rendered useless and she was cuddled against him with an arm wrapping around his waist while his wrapped around her shoulder protectively. It was at this moment he thanked Ominis for the charms he placed near their beds. There was no chance he could live this down had he been caught in such a position. His breath hitched when her nose buried into his chest. There was a likely chance that if she had been awake, she could hear just how fast his heart was beating. 

He hesitated before resting his hand on the back of her head and stroking it. “I’m sorry,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry.” When he closed his eyes, he heard her screams and he found himself holding her closer. It felt revolting to harbor such ill feeling for her, more so when he forced himself to look past her pain. In that respect, it felt like he had been tortured too as he watched her scream in pain and purposely do nothing. Just like with Anne. He was relieved she was alive. She placed himself in the line of fire for him, how many people would do that for him? The very least he could do was take care of her tonight. Pulling the blanket over their bodies, Sebastian allowed himself to let his guard down- at least just for the moment. Warmth washed over them and the sound of her soft exhales easily lulled him back to sleep.

The second time he awoke, she was gone.

Sebastian tossed the sheets off of him, bolting out of his room and up the spiral staircases to the common room entrance. Bare skin on stone did not feel especially good, especially since they were so cold that they stung him with every step. At the top, he saw the Floo powder station and halted immediately. On the floor in front of Ignatia Wildsmith’s likeness was a fine helping of sparkling, black dust that signaled recent use. 

***

Dear Sebastian, 

That new fifth-year certainly is everything you described her to be. Will we be seeing more of her? She complimented you a lot. Should I be calling her ‘sister’ soon? Don’t make a face, I’m only teasing. I also wanted to thank you for the shrivelfig. It made my day.

Love, 

Anne 

P.S. I know it was you who took my potions kit. I expect it back next time you’re home! 

***

Professor Fig,

I found the village where Isidora, one of the Keepers, once lived. She used to live in a hamlet by Hogwarts by the name of Feldcroft. It led me to another lead that I am currently investigating with my friend (the one I told you about before). Wish me luck!

Yours truly

P.S. 

The Slytherin Common Room is absolutely breathtaking! I dare say I was sorted into the wrong house. Something about seeing the Black Lake from the depths put me right at ease. I would almost dare to sneak into it again just to see it once more. Maybe even Sebastian would like to come read with me by the window.