The Hidden Truth
Theowen awoke with a start, her body feeling sluggish and weighed down as if she were moving through molasses. A dull ache throbbed in her head, and as she raised a hand to her temple, she felt the gritty texture of soot smeared across her cheek. Her hair, tangled and matted, was streaked with ash from lying on the dusty, debris-strewn ground.
She pushed herself up on trembling arms, her limbs heavy and uncooperative. Her joints protested with sharp stabs of pain, and a wave of nausea rolled through her as she struggled to gather her bearings. The oppressive darkness of the repository pressed in on her from all sides, amplifying her disorientation. Her breaths came in shallow, ragged gasps, and she felt a cold sweat trickle down the back of her neck.
Theowen couldn't tell how long she had been unconscious, but the fact that it was still dark outside gave her a small measure of relief. Morning had not yet come, and she hoped she hadn't lost too much time. Her eyes gradually adjusted to the dim light, and as the shadows receded, the horrifying scene around her came into focus.
Stifling a yelp, she clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with terror. Bodies of dead goblins lay strewn across the chamber, their lifeless forms twisted and broken. The metallic scent of blood mingled with the acrid odour of burnt flesh, creating a nauseating miasma that hung heavy in the air. Theowen's heart pounded in her chest, a cold dread settling in her stomach as she took in the carnage.
"Did I... do this?" she whispered, her voice barely more than a trembling breath. She remembered the dark whispers, the voices clawing at her mind, urging her to let them in. Had she lost control? The thought sent a shiver down her spine, and she felt a surge of panic rising within her.
Exhausted and overwhelmed, she knew she couldn't stay here any longer. The walls of the repository seemed to close in around her, and the oppressive atmosphere threatened to suffocate her. She had to get out, had to flee from the horror she might have unleashed.
With a burst of frantic energy, Theowen scrambled to her feet. Her legs wobbled beneath her, but she forced herself to move, driven by a desperate need to escape. She stumbled through the darkened halls of the castle, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she ran. The shadows seemed to reach out for her, their tendrils brushing against her skin, but she pushed on, fuelled by sheer terror.
Bursting through the castle doors, she felt the cool night air wash over her, a stark contrast to the stifling heat inside. She didn't stop running, her footsteps echoing in the silent night as she fled far away from Rookwood Castle and the horrors it held within.
Theowen ran through the forest, the gnarled branches of ancient trees tearing at her clothes and skin as she stumbled through the underbrush. Her breath came in shallow gasps, and her heart pounded in her chest as she frantically called out, "Highwing! Highwing, where are you?"
The night was eerily silent, save for the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. There was no sign of her Hippogriff companion, and a cold knot of fear tightened in her stomach. She scanned the darkness, hoping for a glimmer of silver feathers or the familiar shape of Highwing, but the forest remained stubbornly empty.
Desperation clawed at her as she continued to call out, her voice growing hoarse. "Highwing, please!" she pleaded, but there was no response. The realisation struck her like a blow—her friend had likely been spooked by the earlier chaos with the goblins and had fled. The thought of being stranded, alone and vulnerable, in the dark forest filled her with dread.
Panic rising, Theowen forced herself to think. She couldn't stay here; she needed to find safety. The memory of Isadora's hut flickered in her mind. The small village of Feldcroft was nearby, and Isadora's hut could offer refuge. Clinging to this hope, she set off in the direction of the village, her steps unsteady but determined.
The path to Feldcroft was familiar, but in the darkness, every shadow seemed menacing, and every sound made her jump. Theowen's mind raced with thoughts of what might lurk in the forest, but she pushed them aside, focusing on reaching Isadora's hut.
Finally, the dim lights of Feldcroft came into view, and Theowen felt a surge of relief. She didn't care about being seen; she just wanted to find safety. She sprinted through the quiet streets, her footsteps echoing off the cobblestones as she made her way to Isadora's hut.
As Theowen made her way to Isadora's hut, the sound of voices reached her ears. She slowed her pace, listening intently. Judging from the baritone and the manner of speech, she immediately deduced that goblins were prowling in the ruin. Her teeth gritted in a mix of annoyance and anger. She was tired, covered in dirt, and in desperate need of a warm bath. The anger she felt began to amplify tenfold, and red wisps formed around her fingers. She recognised it immediately as a form of Ancient Magic, albeit a corrupt one.
There was no time to think, and she was desperate to get home. With fierce determination, she leapt into action, attacking the goblins patrolling the ruins. The sensation was exhilarating and powerful. For once, her wand was unnecessary in a fight. She controlled the goblins with ease, manipulating them like puppets and slamming them against one another.
Compared to her last encounter with the goblins, her consciousness remained intact. She ensured that she would not shed further blood, but a concussion or two should suffice for putting her through more exhaustion. The goblins, caught off guard by her ferocity and the raw power of the Ancient Magic, fell quickly.
When the last goblin lay unconscious, Theowen stood amidst the chaos she had wrought, her chest heaving with exertion. The red wisps faded from her fingers, leaving her feeling both drained and victorious. She took a moment to steady herself, the thrill of the fight giving way to a deep weariness.
Theowen turned her attention back to the ruined hut, the stones weary with time. She passed through the archway that served as the main door, the structure barely holding itself together. With determined resolve, she took out her wand and blasted the familiar walls near the old fireplace with Depulso. The aged stones broke apart, falling backward to reveal Isadora's old bedroom and hidden stairs leading to the basement.
Wasting no time, Theowen headed inside, already knowing what to expect. Just like before when she had come here with Sebastian, the basement was filled to the brim with Devil's Snare, slithering around and protecting Isadora's old papers and books. With a shiver of disgust, she cast Lumos, causing the sinister vines to recede and allowing her passage.
At long last, she reached the mirror, its surface reflecting the Undercroft as clear as day. Relief washed over her, but just as she was about to step through, she hesitated. With one last look at the secret room, she cast a massive Incendio, setting the papers and texts ablaze. She watched as the flames consumed Isadora's research, ensuring that Ranrok's men would not catch up to her anytime soon.
Satisfied, Theowen turned back to the mirror. She took a deep breath and stepped through, the cool glass giving way to the familiar surroundings of the Undercroft. Relief washed over her as she finally felt the safe walls of Hogwarts around her, not realising that dawn had passed.
The Undercroft, a secret hall hidden behind a clock on the ground floor of Hogwarts Turris Magnus, was a place of solace known only to a select few. Its existence was a closely guarded secret, known only to Ominis Gaunt and the Sallow twins, Anne and Sebastian. As Ominis sat in the dim, ancient hall, memories of better times flooded his mind. Before Anne fell ill, the three of them would gather here to play Gobstones, their laughter echoing off the stone walls.
Ominis flipped through the pages of his favourite grim mystery novel, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, his sentient wand hovered over the words, whispering them into his mind, savouring the tranquillity of the early morning. He had grabbed a few toasts from the dining hall earlier and was enjoying the rare moments of peace. However, the serenity was tinged with the bitterness of his strained relationship with Sebastian. Their bond had been tested ever since Sebastian discovered the existence of Slytherin's Scriptorium, a dark place Ominis vehemently denied any knowledge of, fearing the dark magic it held.
Ominis despised dark magic and the pureblood supremacy his family followed to the letter. Only he and his aunt, Noctua Gaunt, had fought for change from within, believing there was more to Salazar Slytherin than dark magic. His heart ached as he thought of Sebastian’s obsession with curing Anne through any means necessary, even if it meant delving into the darkest of arts.
He sighed, remembering how he had caught Sebastian sneaking into the restricted section of the library once more. Ominis hoped this latest incident would be enough to dissuade him from pursuing the dark arts, though he doubted it. Sebastian was too stubborn, too driven by his love for Anne to let mere detentions alter his course.
Determined not to let these dark thoughts ruin his peaceful morning, Ominis focused on his book. The story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was a grim reminder of the duality of man, the struggle between good and evil that seemed to parallel his own life. He hoped that Sebastian would find his way back to the light, away from the temptations of dark magic.
Just as he was getting lost in the story, a faint noise caught his attention. His finely tuned senses, sharpened by years of navigating the world without sight, alerted him to the presence of another. He closed his book and listened intently, wondering who would be coming to the Undercroft at such an hour.
Ominis stood, placing his book aside, his wand in front of him, guiding him through the Undercroft despite his lack of vision. He could sense someone was there—someone other than Sebastian. How had they found this place? He knew Sebastian would never betray his trust.
He listened intently, hearing the stranger hiding at the far end of the Undercroft, her breathing slightly ragged. "Who's there?" he called out, but no one replied. Annoyed at the thought that people assumed they could 'hide' from him by staying silent, he said, "I know you're here! There is no point in hiding. Come out!"
Moments later, he heard a heavy sigh. "O-Ominis, I... didn't expect to find you here," came the awkward reply, like a child caught stealing cookies.
Ominis frowned, recognising the voice and feeling slightly betrayed. "Theowen? What on Merlin's name are you doing here? And how did you find this place?"
As she stepped closer, her figure became clearer, his wand revealing a faint silhouette of her. He could see her hands clutched in nervousness. "I swear, I just stepped through a portal and ended up here..."
Ominis found her excuse very weak. "Sorry, but I do not find your 'reasons' very convincing."
He heard her flinch. "I swear that was what happened! If I truly came here with proper means, then wouldn't you have heard me coming more distinctly?"
Ominis was surprised. He couldn't tell whether she was being deliberately daft or was simply a horrible liar. His stance shifted to one of offence. "That may be true, but how did you know about that? If you say you happened to just 'appear' here, then how do you know the main entrance to this location?"
"I didn't. I just assumed this was some sort of secret room and it would have mechanisms in place to unlock it, judging from the metal-barred gate, which I deduced is the main entrance?" she said in a flurry of reasons.
His brows raised, his wand slightly lowered. "That may be true, but it still does not explain what you were doing to end up here in the first place." Ominis came closer, and Theowen instinctively took a step backward. He noticed she was hiding something. "Is that... soot I smell mixed with blood?" His gaze shifted to one of worry. "Are you hurt?"
He heard her patting herself down, indicating she might not have realised she was injured during whatever altercation she had faced. After a moment, she hissed ever so slightly. "It's nothing, just a scratch from a tumble."
"Let me see," he commanded, hands outstretched.
"Ominis, honestly, it's fine. I'll just go and leave you be."
Without saying a word, he stood his ground, making it clear that she should not go against his wishes at this moment. After a while, he heard hesitant footsteps approaching. A warm hand was placed in his. Rubbing his thumb across her hand to locate the wound, he heard her breath hitch. He flinched but didn’t let go. "Apologies, am I hurting you?"
She shook her head vehemently, her long tresses ruffling in the air. He tried to give her a small, comforting smile. "It would be easier if you showed me directly where the wound is."
"R-right, sorry," she mumbled, guiding his hand to her arm where he felt warm liquid seeping through her shirt and onto his hand.
"This will be uncomfortable. Bear with me," he commanded once more, feeling the wound tenderly. It was quite deep, like a sharp cut. Ominis frowned, knowing that judging from the rough texture of her hand, coated with soil, and the deep cut, her earlier altercation could involve either goblin metal or dark wizards casting the slicing spell, Diffindo. He wondered what on earth she was doing sneaking out of Hogwarts and getting into trouble, especially being a new student.
He quickly cast Vulnera Sanentur a spell he was taught from his aunt on mending deep gashes on her wound, and he could hear her flesh mending swiftly. He went to feel the area where the wound was, only to find smooth skin greeting his hand. "There, all better," he said softly, retracting his hand. "Now, tell me what happened. Why are you in this state?"
"I... I told you, just a tumble," she said hesitantly.
"Your wound is too deep to be caused by any branches. I can only deduce the enemies you were fighting judging from the state of your dressing could only be goblins or dark wizards. Now do not insult me further by lying to me after coming to my family's hall uninvited," he commanded, his patience running thin with her constant dance of not painting him the full picture.
Silence fell in the Undercroft. Ominis almost felt slightly guilty for reprimanding her more harshly than he intended. His tension with Sebastian didn't help matters. Before he could apologise, she spoke.
"I was in Rookwood Castle," she finally admitted.
Ominis was shocked. He had just assumed that she had been gallivanting in the Forbidden Forest or the outskirts of Hogsmeade, but all the way to Feldcroft? "What on Merlin's beard are you doing all the way in Feldcroft?"
She sighed. "Do you remember what I told you in the Three Broomsticks? The fact that Ranrok was after me?"
Ominis nodded, prompting her to continue.
"Well, I have... learned of his plans and stopped them from ever bearing fruit. Hence my appearance."
He pinched his brows. "That's awfully foolish of you. Going after fanatical goblins on your own?"
"I had no choice. The nature of my magic is needed to be kept hidden," she explained.
Annoyed by her statement, he crossed his arms. "You could've asked me to assist you. I've known of your abilities."
He could hear her panic ever so slightly. "No! I could never put you in danger like that!"
Ominis was taken aback by her reaction. "Is it due to my lack of sight? I assure you that I am a very capable duellist, even more so than Sebastian," he said, feeling offended. He thought she was looking down on him due to his disability and family name, just like the others. "Or is it because you're afraid of our headmaster?"
"No! Not at all! I know you are very capable in a fight, it's just..." She hesitated before continuing, "I just don't want to see you get hurt," she admitted, her voice barely a whisper.
Ominis was surprised by her confession. He could feel his ears heating slightly due to her words. "B-because you're my very first friend here!" she explained in a panic, which brought cold waters down his existence.
"Right," he confirmed, before she panicked once more, seemingly frustrated that it seemed what she truly wanted to say couldn't come out. He almost let out a chuckle, finding her expression very amusing.
There was still a question prodding in his mind: just how did she get here? Was there a portal to the Undercroft in Feldcroft this entire time? He could feel her still hiding something, and just as he was about to ask, he heard the mechanism click alongside echoing footsteps, which he could only assume was Sebastian, ready to pester him for the entrance to the Scriptorium once more. Instinctively, he guided Theowen to hide behind him, eliciting a surprised yelp from her. He knew he would have another headache trying to explain to Sebastian why she was in her state of dress.
"Knew I'd find you here," Sebastian started as he looked at Ominis before his expression turned to that of fury. "You!" he said in anger. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Confusion filled Ominis as he heard Theowen cuss under her breath, trying to hide behind Ominis further by clutching his robe. Sebastian was striding with anger and purpose while pulling out his wand. In a panic, Ominis shielded her further by preventing Sebastian from coming closer.
Sebastian, visibly confused and fuming, demanded, "What are you doing, Ominis? Did you let her in here?"
Ominis could only sigh, groaning internally to protect her secret. "...Yes."
His answer caused Sebastian to scowl. "Why!? Do you know what she did to me?"
His curiosity was piqued; this was news to him. "What?"
Sebastian pointed his wand towards Theowen. "She was the reason I was in detention!"
Ominis' brows furrowed. "I thought you were in detention because you got caught in the restricted section again."
Sebastian gritted his teeth. "Yes, I got caught because she bloody petrified me in front of the gate!"
Ominis then whipped his head towards Theowen. "You were sneaking in the restricted section? Whatever for?"
All Ominis heard was silence. No reply from her, but he could feel her hands clutching his robe even tighter, understanding the cue that it was highly likely due to her Ancient Magic abilities that she had to remain tight-lipped. He had to redirect the conversation elsewhere.
"Sebastian, why were you in the restricted section, again? I thought you told me that you couldn't find anything useful and would never venture into the restricted area."
Sebastian sucked in his breath. Ominis noticed that it had something to do with the Scriptorium again. "It's the Scriptorium, isn't it?"
At the mention of the place, he felt Theowen flinch ever so slightly, finding her reaction strange. "Sebastian, we’ve been over this. The Scriptorium is dangerous."
"Yes, and it's also the key to curing Anne. I can't just sit idly by, Ominis!" Sebastian's voice was filled with frustration and desperation.
Ominis pinched his brows together. "I have told you countless times, Sebastian. You will find no cure hidden within the Dark Arts!"
Sebastian's voice was filled with fury. "You don't know that! How would you even begin to know when you refused all its teachings at such a young age?"
Ominis felt anger rising within him. "How could you!? Are you saying that I should follow through torturing an innocent Muggle just for the sake of studying the Dark Arts!?"
Sebastian fell silent, and Ominis could feel his friend slowly slipping away. It ached him to see Sebastian falling for the empty promises the Dark Arts offered. Without further words, Sebastian huffed and left, muttering under his breath, "I'll find my own way to the Scriptorium, with or without you."
After a moment, the footsteps receded alongside the mechanism turning once more. He then turned to Theowen, who stayed silent, though through his wand, he could somehow sense that she was lost in thought. Their reverie was broken when a wall in the Undercroft shuffled, revealing a Triptych and Pensieve appearing out of thin air. He heard Theowen sigh in exhaustion. It seemed things would never let them rest, even for just a moment.