The Depths of Loyalty
Theowen...
The world slowly came back into focus for her. At first, it was just the faint sound of a voice calling her name, distant and muffled as though it were coming from underwater. Theowen... The voice was soft, gentle, and familiar. She clung to it, using it as a lifeline to pull herself out of the murky depths of unconsciousness.
Her senses gradually began to reawaken. She felt the cold hardness of the desk beneath her elbows, the smooth surface slick with the faint residue of old ink. The scent of parchment and ink filled her nose, mingling with the ever-present mustiness of the old classroom. She heard the monotonous drone of Professor Binns' lecture, the words merging into a steady hum that provided a strange sort of comfort. The rustle of paper and the occasional cough from a fellow student punctuated the background noise, grounding her further.
Theowen shifted slightly, her muscles stiff from remaining in the same position for too long. She realized she wasn't lying on the desk as she had thought, but rather, she was leaning against something warm and solid. The sensation was comforting, soothing the lingering traces of the nightmare that had plagued her sleep.
As her mind cleared, she became more aware of her surroundings. She felt a gentle pressure against her shoulder, the steady rise and fall of someone breathing beside her. The voice calling her name became clearer, more insistent. "Theowen, wake up." Ominis' tone was filled with concern.
She opened her eyes slowly, blinking against the harsh light that filtered through the dusty classroom windows. Her vision was blurry at first, but gradually sharpened. She found herself staring at the familiar, ghostly form of Professor Binns at the front of the classroom, his lecture continuing uninterrupted, or so she thought.
Theowen turned her head slightly, her cheek brushing against something soft. She realized with a start that she had been resting on Ominis' shoulder. His arm was draped around her, his hand resting gently on her arm. The warmth of his touch was a stark contrast to the cool air of the classroom. She could feel his breath, steady and calming, against her temple.
"The class has ended," Ominis informed her softly, his expression a mix of concern and amusement.
Her eyes met Ominis's, his pale, sightless gaze directed towards her. He was closer than she expected, and it dawned on her that she had been resting on his shoulder the entire time. A rush of mortification flooded her senses as she processed the situation. She straightened up abruptly, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
As she glanced around, she noticed other students packing their belongings, some casting curious or amused glances in her direction. Whispers floated through the air, snippets of conversation about her resting so intimately on Ominis’s shoulder.
"Did you see that?"
"How long was she asleep on him?"
"Do you think they're...?"
Theowen's heart pounded, and she could feel the heat rising to her face. She quickly gathered her things, trying to ignore the murmurs and the weight of her own embarrassment. "I-I'm so sorry, Ominis," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't mean to... I mean, I didn't realize..."
Ominis gave a reassuring smile, his demeanour as calm as ever. "It's alright. You needed the rest. Shall we head for lunch?"
She nodded, still feeling the sting of embarrassment but grateful for his understanding. As they made their way out of the classroom, she kept her head down, avoiding the curious gazes of her classmates. The whispers followed them like a shadow, but Ominis's steady presence beside her offered a small measure of comfort. They navigated through the bustling corridors of Hogwarts, heading towards the Dining Hall. Despite Ominis's reassuring presence, Theowen felt increasingly uncomfortable with every step. It seemed like everyone was staring at her, their eyes filled with curiosity or judgment.
She could feel the whispers following her, a constant reminder of the recent events that had thrust her into the spotlight: the dragon attack, the troll incident in Hogsmeade, and now her unintentional nap in History class. Each step made the weight of their gazes heavier, the whispers more suffocating.
Unable to bear it any longer, she stopped suddenly, causing Ominis to pause in confusion. "What's the matter?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.
She hesitated, biting her lip. "I-if you don't mind, would you like to eat lunch somewhere else?"
Ominis was puzzled at first, but then his sharp hearing picked up more of the students' whispers, speculating about the nature of their relationship. He had grown accustomed to such rumours and paid them no mind, but he knew Theowen wasn't used to this kind of attention.
He gave her a comforting smile. "Of course. Lead the way."
She could hear the smile forming on her lips as she naturally grabbed his wrist, her fingers warm and steady against his skin. Ominis allowed himself to be led through the maze of hallways, his other senses guiding him as much as her gentle pull. They maneuverer through the familiar stone corridors until they reached a quieter, more secluded part of the castle.
Ominis was puzzled as Theowen led him up towards the Astronomy Tower. He had expected her secret hideout to be a tucked-away storage closet or perhaps an unused classroom near the Astronomy class. Instead, to his surprise, a door began to form in the hallway, materializing out of thin air.
As they entered the room, Ominis scanned his surroundings with his sentient wand, the tip glowing softly. He felt an immediate shift, as if they had been transported to another place entirely, far from the familiar stone walls of Hogwarts. The air here was different, carrying a sense of warmth and nostalgia.
Theowen had transformed the Room of Requirement to look like her old home, a place she shared with Ominis in the distant future. The cosy space was filled with familiar furniture, soft lighting, and a gentle, welcoming atmosphere. It was an intimate setting, designed with care and love.
Ominis took in his surroundings, his expression a mixture of awe and confusion. The familiar yet foreign space brought a stark reminder to Theowen: this was not the man she had married. This was a younger Ominis, unacquainted with the memories and experiences that had shaped their future together. She watched as he moved cautiously, his wand guiding him, trying to make sense of this new environment.
She watched as Ominis moved cautiously, his wand guiding him, trying to make sense of this new environment. She couldn't bear to reminisce on her future that had yet to happen or even would happen with how much she had changed the course of events. "I hope you like baked beans," she said as she disappeared into the kitchen before calling out, "Make yourself comfortable."
Ominis didn't know how to react. The place was far too foreign to him; he felt like a guest in her home. He chose to sit awkwardly on the plush velvet sofas that his wand guided him to. He could hear her rummaging in the kitchen area and, not long after, the scent of meats and beans permeated the air—surprisingly, even fresh bread too. A moment later, she came out with the food and placed it on the coffee table in front of him, sitting at a distance beside him.
"Are we still in Hogwarts?" he questioned, still unsure of their location. The uncertainty gnawed at him, bringing a sense of unease.
He could hear her nodding. "Yes, this is just a room."
He was puzzled. "Are you saying that no one else knows of the location of such an enchanted room?"
"Only some of the professors do," she explained. "Professor Weasley gave me permission to use this room to keep up with my studies, undisturbed. She called it the Room of Requirement."
His eyes widened slightly in realization. "I have heard of such a rumour, but I never thought it existed."
"Understandably, it only appears to those who need it. Some might be using the room without realizing it," she said in amusement.
"Astonishing," he said in wonder before pointing towards the warm nourishment in front of them. "And the food? Is it safe to eat?"
"It gives us what we require, and I have eaten here before, numerous times. So I'm sure it's alright," Theowen said, hopeful, as she had never experienced any negative effects from consuming what the room provided. Till today, she was still unsure how the magic worked in the Room of Requirement. One day, she planned to figure out the complexities of the magic, though much to her chagrin, her attempts had failed so far.
As the two dug into their lunch, they exchanged light banter. Ominis was surprised that the food was actually delectable and decided not to look into it too much, accepting the situation with a contented ignorance.
Suddenly, Theowen broke the silence as she sipped her tea. "You're more than welcome to use this room. It's the least I could do after coming to the Undercroft unwelcomed."
Ominis's eyes widened slightly, reminded of their altercation in the Undercroft. "Ah, I almost forgot, but thank you," he said with a smile before hesitating. "I do admit that I am in need of a whole new secretive location other than the Undercroft."
"Is it because of Sebastian?" she inquired, causing him to pause.
He nodded after a while. "We haven't been talking, still."
"Is he still asking about your family's Scriptorium?" Theowen asked.
Ominis shook his head in disappointment. "Fortunately, no. But that's due to us not being on speaking terms."
Theowen leaned forward, placing her tea cup on the coffee table in front of her. With her fingers interlaced, she hesitated before starting, "Regarding Sebastian's insistence on the Scriptorium... I might have a solution."
Her statement intrigued him. He relaxed into his seat, his arms crossed. "Go on."
"Maybe you should let him into the Scriptorium...?" Theowen said hesitantly, biting her lip. Ominis scowled slightly before cooling his expression instantly.
"That's not much of a plan. You realize why I refused to allow him into that hell in the first place. He won't find anything there."
"And I believe that he won't, but it will buy us time and allow me to meet Anne through the proper means," she reasoned. "Ominis, I do not want to do anything with the Dark Arts, let alone let anyone I know get involved in such magic. But for now, we need to curb his obsession. And the only way to do so is unfortunately letting him into the Scriptorium, with supervision."
Ominis looked thoughtful, his eyes narrowing as he weighed her words. "You really think this will work? That it will satisfy him, even temporarily?"
Theowen nodded, her expression earnest. "I do. If he sees that we’re willing to explore his leads, even in a controlled manner, it might quell his restlessness. Plus, if we can bring Anne into this—through the proper means—it might refocus his energy on something positive."
He sighed deeply, the weight of the decision heavy on his shoulders. "It's risky, Theowen. The Scriptorium is dangerous. But if it means keeping Sebastian from delving deeper into the Dark Arts... I'll consider it."
She placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "I will cure Anne by any means before Sebastian ever delves deeper into the Dark Arts, this I swear," she said with a firm grasp.
Ominis's pale gaze was filled with fear and apprehension as he gripped her hand and sighed. "Alright. But if it gets too far, I have the right to end it," he insisted, making it clear it wasn't a request but a requirement if they were to embark on this path.
Theowen smiled and nodded enthusiastically. "Of course."
Ominis then leaned back in his seat, pinching his brows as he found it unbelievable that he was about to do something he had set out never to do. "But let me talk to him first. I'll let you know then where we'll meet."
She nodded once more. "Thank you, Ominis."
He smiled sadly at her. "Do not thank me yet. I hope you know what you're doing."
She smiled with a sigh. "Trust me, I've had plenty of time to think this through."
The next evening, just after dinner, Theowen waited near one of the dimly lit corridors close to the entrance of the Slytherin common room. The anticipation thrummed through her veins as she leaned against the cold stone wall, her eyes fixed on the concealed entrance to the Scriptorium. The walls were adorned with intricate serpentine carvings, their sinister elegance a stark reminder of the secrets hidden within.
This moment felt like a crossroads for Theowen. If she failed to find a cure for Anne, things could spiral out of control, leading to the same tragic outcome or something even worse. The weight of the future bore down on her shoulders, and she took a deep breath to steady herself.
In the stillness of the corridor, she heard low hushed whispers echoing through the passage. One voice, excited and animated, insisted, "You won't regret it, I promise." The other voice, more subdued and reluctant, responded with a tone of resignation.
As the voices grew closer, Theowen recognized them as Sebastian and Ominis. Sebastian's face lit up with a determined smile, but it quickly faltered when he spotted Theowen. His expression hardened, and she could see the irritation simmering beneath the surface. She braced herself, knowing that he was preparing some snide or snarky comments based on their past encounters, especially when she had suggested working together with a Goblin.
Sebastian's eyes narrowed as he approached, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well, well, if it isn't our unlikely ally. I hope you're not planning on Petrifying one of us the moment our backs are turned."
Ominis hissed, "Sebastian!"
Theowen met Sebastian's gaze steadily, refusing to be intimidated. "No, Sebastian. I'm here to help."
He scoffed and muttered under his breath, "Some help you were in the library."
Ominis, sensing the tension, stepped forward and placed a hand on Sebastian's shoulder. "Enough, Sebastian. We don't have time for this. Besides, she was the one that convinced me to let you in the Scriptorium in the first place."
Sebastian's scowl dissipated and turned to suspicion. "Wait, why would you help me convince him to let me in there? And how did you know that I wanted to enter the Scriptorium?" His gaze shifted to Ominis.
Ominis huffed, "It's because I told her that you have been pestering me non-stop about the bloody writing room, and it drove me mad! Now, do you want to enter the place or not!?"
Both were taken aback by Ominis's frustration. He was rarely known to lash out, usually maintaining a cool and quiet demeanour. Sebastian cleared his throat and nodded, taking his silence as confirmation.
Ominis took a deep breath to regain his composure and pointed toward the wall. "Let's get on with it, then. We need to light the braziers to reveal the entrance."
Theowen and Sebastian followed his instructions, each of them lighting a brazier. The flickering flames cast eerie shadows on the walls as the ancient mechanisms groaned to life. The stone wall slowly shifted, revealing a narrow staircase descending into darkness.
Theowen felt a shiver run down her spine as she peered into the abyss. She steeled herself, knowing that this was a crucial moment. Ominis took the lead, his wand guiding him, while Theowen and Sebastian followed closely behind. As they descended into the depths, the air grew colder and the weight of the ancient magic around them pressed in, adding to the tension and anticipation of what lay ahead.