A Bit of Winter Mischief
The snow fell thick over Hogwarts, blanketing the grounds in an endless stretch of white. The castle itself stood as a beacon of warmth against the cold. Most students had long since left for the holidays, and those who remained were nestled in the castle, enjoying the comforts of the hearth and the quiet reprieve from the usual school chaos.
Most students—except for Astoria Blackwood and Sebastian Sallow.
"This is an absolutely terrible idea," Ominis declared, his arms crossed as he stood by the Slytherin common room fireplace, watching the two of them prepare for their latest outing. "You do realise there is a perfectly good, warm castle to spend the holiday in?"
Sebastian grinned as he tugged on his thick black cloak, fastening it at the neck. "Where's the fun in that? We're seizing the opportunity, Gaunt. No pesky professors or curfew restrictions—just the open Highlands and a bit of adventure."
Astoria, already bundled in her winter gear, adjusted her gloves and shot Ominis an amused look. "You really don't want to join us?"
"Not even if you Imperio-ed me."
Sebastian chuckled, grabbing his broom and slinging it over his shoulder. "Suit yourself. We'll be back before dark."
Ominis sighed heavily, as if mourning their common sense, before shaking his head and returning to his book. "Try not to die."
The wind bit at their cheeks as they soared over the castle walls, the vast expanse of the snow-covered Highlands stretching endlessly before them. Flying in the crisp winter air was exhilarating, the cold stinging against their skin, but neither seemed to mind. It had been too long since they had an adventure like this—just the two of them, away from the weight of responsibilities and the ever-looming mysteries of Hogwarts, and Keepers and buried magic.
Sebastian glanced at Astoria as they glided through the air, her golden-brown hair tucked beneath a knitted hood, her emerald scarf whipping behind her. He smirked. "You still keeping up, Blackwood?"
She shot him a glare before nudging her broom forward, streaking past him in a flash. "I'm leading this expedition, Sallow. Try to keep up."
They flew for a while, chasing each other over the treetops, their laughter mixing with the howling wind. Eventually, they descended into a clearing near a frozen lake, untouched and serene. The surface of the water shimmered like glass, reflecting the pale winter sky above.
Sebastian hopped off his broom, stretching his arms. "Now this—this is what holidays should be about."
Astoria dismounted beside him, brushing snow off her cloak. "We should explore. There are ancient ruins scattered around here, some even older than Hogwarts."
He raised a brow, intrigued. "And what exactly are we hoping to find? Hidden treasure? Ancient artefacts?"
She grinned. "Perhaps. Or maybe just a good story to tell Ominis when we get back."
The two trudged through the snow, their boots crunching against the frozen ground. They passed through a grove of frost-covered trees before stumbling upon a set of crumbling ruins—an archway and a few half-buried stone pillars, etched with faded runes.
Astoria crouched, brushing off the snow to reveal more of the markings. "These are Pictish symbols," she murmured. "This place must be ancient."
Sebastian knelt beside her, tracing a finger along the carvings. "You think it's connected to Hogwarts somehow?"
"Wouldn't that be fun." she said thoughtfully. "Or it could be something else entirely."
The ruins stood in eerie silence, buried beneath layers of ice and time. Astoria and Sebastian stood at the entrance, surveying the crumbling archway that led to what appeared to be an underground tomb.
Astoria glanced at the darkened threshold, her curiosity outweighing any sense of rationality. "Well, what's the worst that could happen?" she said, tilting her head.
Sebastian smirked "Oh, I don't know—cursed spirits, collapsing ceilings, maybe an ancient sorcerer's wrath? Or we could just get hopelessly lost and live out our days down there. Just your usual inconveniences, really."
Astoria laughs brightly. It really was just like old times.
Sebastian produces his wand from his coat. "I'll go first," he said firmly. "Stay close."
Without waiting for her to protest, he lifted his wand and casted Lumos. Astoria followed closely, fingers curling around her own wand.
The passage sloped downward, the air growing colder with every step.
When they finally arrived on the first landing, Astoria immediately recognized a familiar circular platform in the centre of the room.
"A Merlin trial!" Astoria's eyes lit up as she rushed toward the stone platform, brushing off the thin layer of dust that had settled over its ancient carvings.
Sebastian paused beside her, his brows knitting together. "What on earth is a Merlin Trial?"
Astoria reached into her satchel and pulled out a handful of Mallowsweet. "They're a sort of magical puzzle—enchanted tests left behind by Merlin himself." She glanced up at him, excitement clear in her voice. "He designed them centuries ago to challenge witches and wizards, testing their cleverness and magical aptitude. There are dozens scattered throughout the Highlands."
Sebastian crossed his arms, watching as she carefully scattered the Mallowsweet leaves over the sigil on the ground. "And you've been solving them?"
Astoria smirked. "Something like that. Merlin was a Slytherin, after all. He believed in cunning and ambition, but also in ingenuity. These trials aren't just about raw power; they require creativity, problem-solving, and sometimes a little luck."
The carvings shimmered with green light, and the air around them thrummed with latent magic.
A moment passed in silence—then the sigil ignited in brilliant green light, pulsing with energy.
Sebastian instinctively stepped in front of her as three stone pillars erupted from the floor, each one engraved with glowing runes.
Astoria's eyes widened. "A fire puzzle," she realized.
Sebastian studied the pillars, his brain working quickly. "The runes match," he pointed out. "We probably have to light them in the right order."
Without hesitation, Astoria flicked her wand. "Incendio!"
The first pillar burst into flame, its runes glowing gold. The second and third, however, remained dark.
Sebastian hummed. "Wrong order."
He aimed his wand at a different pillar. "Confringo!" The second pillar ignited instantly. Astoria quickly lit the third, and the final pillar roared to life in a burst of emerald flames.
As they complete the trial, a deep, resonating hum filled the air. Then, with a low rumble, a trapdoor in the ground groaned open, ancient mechanisms grinding together as a stone pedestal slowly emerged from the depths. Atop it stood a statue of Merlin himself, carved from weathered granite, his flowing robes frozen in time, his wand raised toward the sky.
Around them, nature responded to the magic. Vines and ivy twisted and curled from the ground, slithering up the crumbling stone archway as if awakened from a deep slumber. Delicate white blossoms sprouted between the cracks. The once barren ruins were suddenly alive, reclaimed by the enchantment Merlin had left behind.
Sebastian let out a low whistle, stepping back as the last tendrils of green settled into place. "Now that's dramatic," he remarked, crossing his arms. "Merlin really knew how to make an entrance—even centuries after his time."
Astoria grinned, brushing her gloved fingers over the base of the statue. "It's said that every time a trial is completed, it strengthens the land's connection to magic. Almost like... restoring a forgotten piece of history."
Sebastian raised a brow. "Or it's just an elaborate way to remind everyone he was the greatest wizard of all time."
She laughed, stepping back to admire the sight. "Either way," she said, glancing at him with a playful glint in her eye, "I'd say that was worth the effort. Looks like you're Merlin's kind of wizard."
Sebastian smirked, tilting his head toward the now-revitalized ruins. "I suppose. Though I was hoping for a pile of gold to materialize insead."
Astoria rolled her eyes. "Greedy."
"Resourceful," he corrected, flashing a grin. "Isn't that what Merlin would've wanted?"
Just then, another deep rumbling shook the chamber as hidden alcove slid open at the far end of the room.
Astoria and Sebastian exchanged a glance.
"That's not usually a part of it." Astoria blinks.
Sebastian sighed, ruffling a hand through his hair. "I swear you have a penchant for these sorts of things."
Astoria grinned. "Wouldn't have it any other way."
They stepped through the alcove, revealing an old, abandoned chamber lined with stone coffins and scattered relics. They picked up an old satchel which contained some coin and a rare pair of Elf-made Ivory gloves. At the centre of the chamber, a skeletal figure lay slumped against an altar, its bony fingers clutching a leather-bound notebook.
Astoria carefully pried the book from the skeleton's grasp, brushing away the dust. The pages were old, yellowed with time, but the ink was still legible.
Sebastian leaned over her shoulder, reading the words aloud.
"...The trials are but the beginning. The key is transformation. The alchemy of magic itself—transmutation of power into something beyond our comprehension. He was right. We were fools to try to stop him. If you are reading this, beware—his work still lingers beneath the castle, waiting to be uncovered."
Sebastian frowned. "That doesn't sound ominous at all."
Astoria turned the page. A roughly drawn map was scribbled in the margins, a portion of Hogwarts' underground tunnels circled in ink.
"Do you think this is connected to the Keepers?" she whispered.
Sebastian exhaled, rubbing his temple. "Brilliant. We came for a bit of adventure, and now we're tangled in more ancient magic nonsense."
Before Astoria could respond, a deep growl rumbled from the shadows.
Sebastian was already moving, his wand raised as a large, spectral beast emerged from the dark corner of the tomb.
It was a Mire Lynx, its silver eyes glowing like lanterns, its smoky form shifting in and out of existence.
Astoria's pulse quickened. "I thought they were extinct."
"Fantastic," Sebastian muttered. "Let's not make it our job to verify."
The beast lunged.
Sebastian yanked Astoria behind him, casting Protego just in time to deflect its ethereal claws. The shield flickered, barely holding against the force of the attack.
"Move!" he barked, pushing her toward the exit.
Astoria didn't argue. She sprinted toward the spiral staircase, Sebastian hot on her heels. The beast let out a piercing screech, its form blinking in and out of visibility as it chased after them.
Sebastian spun around at the last moment, wand aimed. "Bombarda!"
The explosion rocked the tomb, sending a cascade of stone crashing down between them and the beast.
Astoria clutched the notebook tightly as they burst into the open air, lungs burning from the effort. Sebastian wheezed, shaking snow from his cloak. "Well," he said, panting, "that should be enough of a story to give Ominis an aneurysm when we tell him.
Laughing, she grabbed his arm and pulled him toward their brooms.
Even in the biting cold, with the weight of another mystery pressing down on them, this felt like old times. Just them—side by side, against the unknown.