Chapter 2
After getting nagged by the Head Wizard for surpassing curfew, Sebastian finally enters his dormitory and silently shuts the door. He crumples the small detention slip and tosses it in the waste bin on his way to his bed.
“Where were you this time?” A stern voice questions.
Ominis is sitting on his bed while having a book in hand. His fingers trace the words on the pages while a voice in his head speaks whatever text he was touching. It was a simple spell he was taught when he could first yield a wand; having a voice in his head read out the page for him. It reminded him of the times when his Aunt Nocua would secretly read him fairy-tales from The Brothers Grimm. It was something his parents disapprove of since it tainted him with false stories from the Muggle world.
“Don’t worry about it.” Sebastian responds as he slips into his night attire.
Ominis sighs and he closes his book. “Look, you can’t break curfew every time. The Head Wizard is starting to get pissed off.”
Sebastian tends to disappear a couple times during the room inspection that ensures everyone is in bed on time. Ominis would make an excuses for Sebastian’s absence every time, saying he either was in the restroom or was running late from a study group.
Sebastian lays in bed and pulls the covers over himself. He turns his back to Ominis, not wanting to take the discussion any further. To that, Ominis shakes his head and places his book on his nightstand before laying down as well.
Normally, Sebastian wouldn’t mind sharing his whereabouts, so it was odd that he was being quiet about it now. It worried him at times when Sebastian would be secretive with him especially since they share everything with each other. He hopes Sebastian will come back to his senses tomorrow.
-----
Ominis Gaunt never exactly met you. Most of his knowledge about you were from whispers and rumors from his classmates and Sebastian. Especially from Sebastian.
Sebastian could not stop talking about “the new student who single handedly took him down” and he opted to keep a close eye on you. Ominis couldn’t bother with the new student, but he was starting to get annoyed with hearing about you and that dragon attack as he passed the halls. The incident with the troll made it worse.
Bloody hell, Sebastian could not stop talking about that event. Giant trolls tearing down Hogsmeade and both of you took it down without the assistance of an Auror. You were too good. You threw barrels and spells Sebastian had never even seen.
The blonde is starting to get rather annoyed with hearing about you constantly and needs to clear his head. He makes his way towards the Undercroft and hears the familiar sound of the clock clicking.
“Hello, Sebastian.” He greets, but immediately pauses. “Wait.”
The footsteps were nothing of Sebastian’s. His is quieter when exiting the Undercroft since he doesn’t want to alert anyone nearby. These were heavier and careless.
“You there! I can hear!” Ominis calls out as his blinking wand is directed at the intruder.
“Oh, hello Ominis.” You greet as you try to keep your voice to sound like a casual manner. “I think we have Potions together…and Herbology?”
“I recognize that voice.” Ominis mutters in a low grumble. “You’re that new fifth year. Did you just come from the Undercroft? How did you get in there?!”
You slightly jump at the sudden demanding outburst. The Ominis you’ve observed in your classes was quiet and collected. Your mind scrambles to come up with a reasonable excuse.
“That room’s called the Undercroft? Ah, well. I was exploring- a-and I suddenly found myself in a strange passageway-”
“Don’t lie to me!” Ominis interrupts as he grips his wand tighter in anger. You can see his knuckles turn paler. “No one just stumbles upon that room. You breathe a word about this place to anyone, not even your precious Professor Fig would be able to help you.”
Even if Ominis’s eyes didn’t meet your own, you can still feel the frustration lace in voice.
“My father is friends with the Headmaster. I’m not afraid to exploit that connection if I need to.”
Ominis hated using his Pureblood status in order to get his way of things, but at times like this, it was necessary. The Undercroft was his place of security. A place where he holds fond memories and having it threatened by someone he doesn’t know frustrates him to no end.
“Sebastian is going to get an earful about this.” Ominis mumbles as he passes right by you, but not before his shoulders hit yours (an indication that you must tread carefully around him now).
-----
Sebastian hears the elevator dig and his head pops out from his book. He was sitting on the floor while his back was rested on a pillar. He smiles upon seeing his Slytherin friend.
“Ah, Ominis! How lovely-”
“We need to talk.”
“I assume you ran into my new friend.” Sebastian nervously laughs when he notices the serious tone in Ominis’s voice. His breathing is a bit more heavy and his shoulders are tense.
Ominis stomps over to Sebastian as the brunette stands up from the floor. “Look, I know it seems bad, but we can trust t-”
“You promised you wouldn’t tell anyone!” Ominis cries out. His voice cracks slightly from hurt. “You swore that this place stays between me, you, and Anne!”
Sebastian’s composure remains calm. “I know I did, and I’m sorry.”
Ominis paces back and forth, a small habit of his when he’s overwhelmed with emotion. His hands are buried in his face in order to hide the tears swelling his eyes.
“First, you wouldn’t stop talking about that new student. Then, you wouldn’t tell me why you were out late that one time and now, you show them the Undercroft.” He wipes the tears from his eyes. “What is going on between you two?”
“Nothing!” Sebastian responds almost too quickly and defensively.
Ominis says calmly, “I’m worried about you. I’m worried that your new friend is causing you to be more reckless.”
“I can assure you, I'm staying safe.” Sebastian reassures.
“Anyways, that’s not what I’m here for. My father sent me this.” Ominis hands a folded piece of parchment over to Sebastian.
I manage to open its doors, but I hesitate to enter. The corridors are dark, so I couldn’t see anything beyond the stairs. I need a moment to rest, so I’ll continue my journey tomorrow.
Slytherin won’t make it easy for just anyone to access his scriptorium, so I expect some sort of challenge ahead. I’ll leave notes for you as I progress through the corridors. In case something happens, I can at least leave a little something behind.
Yours truly,
Noctua Gaunt
P.S. Please continue to reassure Ominis that I’m doing well. I’m sure my sudden disappearance has caused him great worry. Tell him I’ll return soon.
“That was the last letter Father received from Aunt Noctua.” Ominis explains. “He finally sent it to me after I kept pestering him about what happened to her.”
For weeks, Ominis wrote letter after letter demanding his father to tell him what had happened to his aunt. He refuses to believe the tale of her leaving the Gaunt family like his ancestor Rionach Gaunt did. He knew his aunt and she would never leave Ominis, at least not without a proper explanation.
He receives the letter, but not without a threat from his father; Do not enter that scriptorium. I will not hesitate to withdraw you from the school if I find you doing so.
“So, what this letter is saying is that Salazar Slytherin has some sort of secret scriptorium?” It wasn’t a question, but rather clearance to see if he read the words on the paper correctly.
“Yes and it’s here within Hogwarts.” Ominis responds with a nod. “It’s no secret among the Gaunts, however, no one has ever venture there. That was until my aunt did.”
“And now us!” Sebastian perks up excitedly.
“Absolutely not.” Ominis says. “We are not going anywhere near that scriptorium.”
Sebastian’s smile dies. “Why not?”
Ominis’s expression turns serious. “Slytherin plays around with dark magic. Anything to do with the Dart Arts should be avoided. It’s too risky”
Sebastian was well aware of Ominis’s distaste for the Dark Arts. His past has caused him to fear dark magic. He could never forget the physical pain of the Cruciatus Curse along with the mental pain of inflicting that kind of torture on a Muggle.
“But what if that scriptoruim holds the answers we need?” Sebastian pleds. Ominis was still pacing back and forth. “What if we can find a cure for Anne-”
“I lost my aunt, because of that place. What would I do if I lost you too?”
Sebastian pauses. Ominis stops moving and is now silent, processing what he just said. The thought of losing one of his only friends pained him. Aunt Noctua was nowhere to be heard and the curse might take Anne eventually.
Ominis clears his throat as his cheeks are slightly flushed in embarrassment. “I-I don’t want you getting hurt. Let’s just drop this whole scriptorium talk.”
“Fine.” Sebastian reluctantly agreed.
Sebastian’s eyes are fixed on Ominis as pulls out his wand. The tip pulses red and it guides him towards the elevator. Sebastian hears the heavy door close in and his friend disappearing behind it.