Ancora Imparo
'I am still Learning'
'Come and see me after your classes we need to discuss what our next steps are for the upcoming trial
Eleazar Fig'
Classes had finished for the day. Students filing out into the halls talking with friends, rushing to dinner, strolling along to their common room. Morgana however made a beeline directly to Professor Figs office, the prospect of learning more about the situation exciting her. The girl rushed up the stairs from the greenhouses passing many of her friends who tried to stop the girl but were unable to get more than an “I’m sorry I have to go!”
Reaching the Professor's classroom she opened the door dodging past a pair of sixth years trying to exit. She exhaled, her breathing shallow from running so far, and bent at the waist her hands resting on her knees momentarily. Wiping her cloak sleeve over her forehead to get rid of any sweat sticking to her brow and she raised her head. The professor stood with his hands clasped in front of him, an amused look on his face as he saw the girl.
He chuckled at her state, “Good evening! Let's discuss in my office, shall we?” The man waved to the stairs leading up to his office and Morgana walked in first. The familiar warmth surrounded her like a hug, the smell of fire and tea filling her senses. “Tea?” The girl nodded in agreement with a smile. He grabbed the all too familiar tea set from atop one of his many shelves. The two fell into a comfortable silence for a moment. The aromatics of the tea filling calming Morgana, the professor always drank a sweeter flavor tea. A lovely vanilla sugar cookie, it had quickly become her favorite scent.
“Professor, I think I’m ready to start the next trial.” The girl looked into her teacup, “I’ve been excelling with the extra classes and the spells from Professor Hecat and Professor Sharpe.”
The man across from her smiled. “I know you’re ready. That’s why I wanted to meet with you.” He took a long sip from his cup grinning with the flavor. “I think we should go tomorrow. I have already gotten you excused from your classes.”
His words prompted the girl to nearly jump from her seat, excitement covering her features. “That’s wonderful Professor! I look forward to our journey.”
~
Walking into the great hall for dinner Morgana and Professor Fig split ways. He was still chuckling at a story she had told him about a certain prankster in her potions class, she had of course not mentioned any names. Joining her friends at the Slytherin table Sebastian and Ominis were having a low conversation Sebastian was doing most of the talking and Ominis looked annoyed with the conversation. Imelda was going on about a new flight record she had made to Nerida. Ominis stood abruptly slamming his hands onto the table in front of him, Morgana and Sebastian both flinched and the two girls conversation ended snapping their attention to the now standing boy.
“I told you no Sebastian. I will not hear any more of this!” He stepped away from the table, his wand pulsing a red light as he began to walk away. Sebastian sat quietly and began picking at his dinner.
“Bastian? Is everything okay?” Morgana leaned closer to him over the table. The girl spoke so only he could hear her and the other two began whispering to each other.
“Yes. I think I just pushed too hard about something.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair making it look messier than usual and Morgana found herself admiring it. “Actually,” he interrupted her thoughts. “I’ve been wanting to show you something. Can you meet me outside the defence against the dark arts classroom?”
The girl nodded quickly in agreement,”of course! When should I?”
“Let's meet after dinner. I’m going to try to catch up to Ominis to apologize.” The boy stepped from the table and with a grin at the girl he walked away to the large doors.
She stayed with Nerida and Imelda for the remainder of dinner. The girls giggled about Morgana’s secret meeting she was going to have which prompted a blush on the girls face.
~
“Sebastian?” The girl called out into the empty hallway glancing around for the brunette.
“Over here!”
“Why did you have me meet you here?” She looked at the boy quizzically as he stepped into an alcove next to the stairs. Following after him she noticed a large grandfather clock. It was placed in the center of the alcove. It was a strange looking clock, the gears were large and visible on the door of it. Brightly colored stars as well as a sun and moon pictured on the front. Sebastian stepped closer to it and with a smug grin he turned to Morgana.
“Tap your wand here.” The boy showed her and she did so. The gears moved and the clock shifted. The face opened to reveal a staircase going down, Sebastian began his descent and Morgana quickly followed after him. The door shut gently behind them, making no noise as it did. A gated entrance rested at the bottom of the staircase. The boy swung it open and with a flourish of his arms, “welcome officially to the undercroft!” The girl gazed around the room she had seen in passing after her meeting with Anne. The four pillars lit by small lanterns that gave the room a comfortable glow, braziers hanging from the ceiling that resembled small dragons. Boxes piled in corners of the room, some draped with white sheets and other odd objects joined them. The familiar triptych to the left of the room in an alcove that had opened up when she and Sebastian had stepped through the ‘portal’ she had seen in Feldcroft.
“The undercroft? Is that what you’ve named it? I didn’t think I’d ever see this room again after we left.” The girl continued to scan the room, “how did you find it again anyways?” She turned her gaze to the boy standing proudly next to her.
“Well about that,” he tousled his hair once again making it look messier than usual. A look that Morgana seemed to enjoy as he cheeks dusted with pink. “I might’ve known about this before we found it.” The boy laughed awkwardly, moving to rub the back of his neck and shifting on his feet. “Ominis is the one that named it the undercroft. He showed this place to Anne and I in our first year. He made me swear to never show it to anyone else.” He made his way to one of the pillars and leaned against it, crossing his arms. “I know you’ve technically been in here before but this time is official. It must stay between the two of us.”
The girls brows furrowed as she glanced around the room again. “How did Ominis find this place then?”
“Someone in his family knew about it. The Gaunt’s are full of secrets. I’ve never heard anyone else speak of it, and until we found the triptych I’d never seen anyone else in here. Really, you can’t mention this to anyone, especially Ominis. He has no love lost for his family or their secrets, but this place is special to him.” His face was very serious. Staring into Morgana’s green eyes like he could see through them and into her soul. She sucked in a breath at the eye contact and nodded.
“I won’t breathe a word Bastian. I promise. Why did you decide to show me this place?”
“The undercroft is the perfect place to slip away from prying eyes. I thought you may appreciate a break. It’s also great to practice otherwise forbidden spells.” A mischievous look crossed his face, “such as the blasting curse. Confringo. I thought I may teach it to you if you’d like to learn?”
“I’d like to learn all that I can. This spell isn’t taught here?”
“The professors deem it too dangerous for students, but I think all spells should be taught.”
He turned to the braziers hanging in the middle of the room and cast glacius on them to snuff out the flame. Bringing his attention back to the girl he held up his wand, “ready to learn? You can just copy my wand movements. Do be careful though, me and Ominis singed our eyebrows off the first time we cast it.” Chuckling at the memory he shook his head lightly. “The spell is ‘confringo’ when you’re ready- cast it at the brazier.” He waved his wand and Morgana copied the movement. Fire shot from her wand with a perfect precision. The brazier caught fire and swung lightly.
“I did it!” The girl cheered and turned to Sebastian who was grinning at her. She jumped excitedly into his arms and he let out a laugh and spun her round once. He placed her onto the ground, his hands still at her waist, smiling at her. Her cheeks flushed red at their proximity as she stared up at him. A shy smile was shared by her before she stepped away from his embrace. She let out a dramatic gasp, “are my eyebrows still in tact!?”
Sebastian howled with laughter bending over to catch his breath. “You did great! If I didn’t know any better I’d think you already knew the spell. Your eyebrows are just fine Gana. You look beautiful as always.” He blushed lightly and scratched the back of his neck avoiding looking at the girl.
The two fell to silence for a moment. Morgana shifted on her feet before turning to Sebastian. “Bastian I-” the boy looked at her, his brown eyes glowing in the light of the fire. She froze as the two made eye contact. She felt like she was being electrocuted from his gaze. “I should get back to the common room.” The sentence tumbled from her mouth before she could even think. His eyes widened a fraction, “oh right. Of course. I’ll see you later then?”
The two said their goodbyes, albeit awkwardly, and Morgana exited the undercroft.
“Sebastian I’ve been- You. You’re not Sebastian. Who's there?” Ominis stood in the alcove leading to the undercroft. Now staring daggers at Morgana. “Morgana? Is that you? I can smell your perfume. Did you just come from the undercroft!?” His tone shifted to accusatory.
“Ominis! I wasn’t expecting to see you.” The girl hesitated. “Sebastian showed me Ominis. But I swear I won’t tell anyone about this place!”
“You’re right, you won’t. You breathe a word about this place to anyone and not even your precious Professor Fig will be able to keep you safe.” Morgana was taken aback by her friends reaction. “My father is friends with the headmaster and I will not hesitate to use that connection if I need to.”
“Ominis I promise I won’t tell anyone. You’re my friend, I would never betray your trust.”
“Why should I trust you? You just betrayed Sebastian.”
“Ominis please, I just didn’t want to lie to you. Sebastian was just trying to show me a place to practice magic. He’s a good friend!”
“I don’t need you to tell me about my oldest friend! Thank you very much.” Ominis’ voice got louder, anger lacing his words with venom.
“Ominis I just meant-” Morgana was interrupted. “I know what you meant! Sebastian gets himself in enough trouble. He doesn't need your help Morgana.” He looked coldly at the girl, his sightless gaze boring a hole in her skin. He mumbled to himself under his breath, “Sebastian will be getting an earful about this.”
Striding past the girl and saying nothing else to her. She felt a sadness, “Ominis?” He said nothing and walked through the entrance to the undercroft.