Recte Facti Fecisse Merces est
‘The Reward of a Thing well Done, is to Have Done it’
The girl let out a deep sigh, her head dropping onto the table in front of her with a light thump. Sebastian lifted his gaze from the book he was reading to look at the girl as she let out another sigh. An amused smirk lifted on his lips and he let an airy laugh from his nose. “Hey Gana you know you can talk to me if somethings wrong, right?” The girl lifted her head from the table to look the boy in his eyes. She smirks slightly and with a dramatic flair she lets out another long sigh. Sebastian laughs heartily, “Alright, alright. C’mon tell me what's bothering you, I can’t just sit by while you’re wallowing. It’s interrupting my reading.”
The two laughed for a moment and with a lingering smile Morgana spoke, “It’s about the Undercroft.” Her smile fell. “Ominis still isn’t talking to me.” The girl involuntarily let out another sigh and dropped her head back onto the table.
This prompted another laugh from Sebastian as he watched her antics. “Ominis will come around soon. He’s just mad at me for showing you but it’ll blow over.”
“Then why’s he only avoiding me?” The girl looked at him and pouted, “he’s still talking to you.”
“He has a hard time accepting new people. Even when he was speaking to you he kept you at a distance, remember?”
“Yeah, I suppose you’re right. It just feels odd to have him walk past like I don’t exist. Anyway, what are you reading so intently about? Do you have a new lead for a cure?”
His face lit up as she asked, a smile taking over and his excitement evident. “I think I have. I found something that mentioned one of the Hogwarts founders, Salazar Slytherin, he had a hidden chamber here in the school.” The girl lifted her head and listened intently. “As you know Ominis is one of his heirs so I was thinking he may know something about it but he’s been tight lipped when I ask him about it. I’m trying to find a lead in the books but they all say the same, that it’s just a legend of sorts.”
The girl hummed and pursed her lips tightly, “maybe it is a legend Bastian. Perhaps Ominis just simply doesn’t know because it doesn’t exist.”
Sebastian’s excitement dropped from his face, his eyes turning cold. “I’m sure it exists, Gana. If you won’t help me find it then I shouldn't waste my time here.” He began to gather his books and stand.
“Bastian stop! Of course I’ll help you look, I just don’t want for you to get your hopes up too much.” She grabbed hold of his wrist and guided him back to his seat next to her. “If you learn anything more let me know. I’ll always be here to help you.”
He smiled again and opened his book pointing out certain paragraphs to the girl that could be hinting toward where the chamber lies. He went to search for another book and she turned her attention to a potions paper she had given up on. Scratching her quill against the paper writing about a thunderbrew she was stopped when a book was placed into her line of vision.
“It’s called the Scriptorium.” She marveled at the book for a moment, and turned her gaze to Sebastian who was grinning proudly at what he had found. “I’m going to talk to Ominis, try to convince him to change his mind. This could hold the answer to Anne’s cure, Gana.” She smiled and nodded at him as he took off out of the library, no doubt to find Ominis.
After finishing her paper she stretched her arms over her head hearing a satisfying pop crackle from her spine. Packing her books away in her bottomless bag, it had been a gift from Professor Fig, she headed out of the library. Poppy bounded into her vision coming to an abrupt halt when she saw the girl.
“Morgana! I’ve been looking for you, I wanted to talk to you about Highwing! I haven’t been able to find her anywhere, I’m getting very worried.” She fiddled with her hands nervously. “I was hoping you may be willing to help me look for her.”
Morgana’s eyes widened, her mouth dropping slightly. “Oh Merlin! I completely forgot to tell you. I know where she is, I have to run an errand with Professor Fig right now but meet me on the seventh floor in front of the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy tomorrow. I promise I’ll explain everything.” Poppy nodded in agreement to meet the girl and the two parted ways.
Morgana went on her way to Professor Fig’s office, ignoring Zenobia when she called out to the girl to gobstones with her. She entered the classroom and made her way up the steps to his office. Opening the door she closed her eyes lightly and breathed in the scent of fire and vanilla. She smiled at the professor standing behind his desk, “I’m ready to go to the trial professor.”
The two apparated out of the castle, Fig holding tightly to her arm. They were going to Rookwood castle, Morgana had gotten a glimpse of the structure when she had gone to Feldcroft with Sebastian. They landed outside the castle at the bottom of the pathway leading to its large entrance. She saw guards, goblins, pacing the perimeter as Fig had her crouch down next to him.
“Do you know the disillusionment spell yet?” The girl nodded at the professor and cast it upon herself, he nodded satisfied and followed suit. The two stayed close dodging around the guards that were still pacing the entrance and flanked to the left. A loyalist snapped his head toward the two and they dropped their disillusionment raising their wands. Morgana fired first, sending confringo at the goblin and it caught fire. She watched horrified at how the goblin seemed to combust from inside. He screeched in pain and she quickly cast glacius to put an end to the fire. Professor Fig said nothing as they left the frozen goblin standing there, the pain still visible on his face. There was a break in the wall above them that they could go through to get inside the castle, the girl glanced around to see if anything could give them the leverage to reach. A box sat discarded to the side of the building no doubt full of whatever was being smuggled in and out of the structure. She lifted the box and brought it to the base of the wall, showing her skills with wingardium levioso to the professor who praised her with a nod.
Climbing over the wall the two disillusioned themselves once again. They looked at the courtyard below and Morgana took a sharp breath in. Ranrok and Rookwood stood below. Professor Fig motioned her to follow after him and they got closer. Dropping down from their perch they hid behind a box.
“If I had known your plan was to dig up half the country-”
“I wouldn’t have to dig if you could simply manage to bring me the child.”
“We wouldn’t need the child if you hadn’t sent a dragon to retrieve the container I spent months and countless ministry favors tracking.”
Morgana and Professor Fig looked at eachother and turned their attention back to the man and the goblin.
“You let them board the carriage. My options were limited once I knew it would be inconveniently beyond my reach at that infernal school.” Rookwood began to pace.
“Have you not acquired enough power here?” He raised his arms outward, “I allowed you to tunnel under my family home-”
“Allowed me?” The goblins eyes glowed red, “you are here only because you descend from a ‘keeper’ and may inadvertently become valuable.” Morgana tensed, she looked at the professor who kept his attention on the two in the courtyard. Their voices became drowned out as she could only think of one thing; ‘they know about the keepers.’
Professor Fig placed a hand on the girl’s shoulder, having her stand with him. The two talked quickly about what they had heard and moved to make their way inside the castle. Loud cracking sounds drowned the girls ears.
Goblins and ashwinders surrounded the two. Morgana looked to her professor who raised his wand, eyes narrowing and focusing. “Be ready for a fight,” he warned. She raised her wand quickly. Professor Fig conjured a shield charm surrounding the two as an ashwinder fired.
The girl turned as the shield fell, firing confringo at one of the ashwiners. It struck them and they were flown back with the force catching fire and dropping to the ground. She turned her attention to the one that was standing next to them feeling her ancient magic course. She lifted them into the air slamming them back to the ground repeatedly and casting them into the ashwinder to their left.
She cast the transfiguration spell on a goblin that was charging toward her turning it into an exploding barrel she had seen near their digsites, she lifted the barrel and launched it into the group that were advancing on Fig. He sent an appreciative nod toward her and continued his fight. She focused in on the next ashwinder twirling her wand in a circle as she pushed it in their direction, their body disintegrating. The next she lifted them into the air with leviosa and slammed them into the earth below with descendo. A glacius and diffindo handled the next quickly. A goblin raised its sword and charged at the girl, “Expelliarmus!” The sword was ripped from its hands and she grabbed it with her magic, turning it back and sending it into the goblin. Professor Fig turned and with a petrificus totalus the final ashwinder fell.
~
They finally reached the portrait of Rookwood. He urges Morgana quickly to start the trial. She steps to where she feels like magic calling her and raises her wand over the spot. An archway sprouted from the ground, and Morgana walked to it. “I will meet you back at the map chamber. Do be safe.” Professor Fig spoke before apparating back to the castle. Looking into the archway she saw the blue and gold room and she stepped through.
~
The trial consisted of puzzles conducted through archways. Her ancient magic revealing and leading the way. She had completed the puzzles efficiently and had defeated the final knight with some difficulty. The pensive had revealed another memory of the last ancient magic holder before her. She made her way through the door and stepped into the map chamber. Professor Fig was waiting for her speaking with the portraits of the keepers. When she stepped in the professor turned his attention to the girl, looking her over to ensure she had no injuries.
The two speak with the portraits discussing what she saw in the pensieve, a third person emerges from their portrait and introduces herself as Niamh; a previous Hogwarts headmaster. They discuss the third trial and how long it will take to have it set up. Professor Fig and Morgana talk briefly and she excuses herself back to her common room.
~
As she exited the map chamber Morgana began her walk back to the common room thinking about what had transpired in the trial she faced and the fight she had prior. The girl was tired, her body aching and her mind reeling. Her thoughts racing the girl collapsed on her bed, Nerida and Imelda looked at her as she came in but didn’t disturb the girl. She quickly fell to sleep.