Chapter 8
You follow the pull of the ring to the train station, stopping before the board of departing trains and looking at the possible routes.
“Which do you think it is?” Severus asks, standing beside you as he looks at the board as well.
You shake your head, holding your hand up as the ring barely sends you any sign of assurance. You point one finger at the first destination on the board, and the ring does nothing. You slide your finger down the list, feeling the stagnant, distant buzz of the ring on your finger.
Maybe you’ve got the wrong place, maybe the train station isn’t where you’re supposed to be now. You slide one more name down the list, and suddenly a buzz shoots through your hand, the ring sending you an alert that that is exactly where you need to go next.
“Austria?” You ask, looking up at Severus as you read the board. “What could be in Austria?”
He takes a deep breath as he takes your hand in his.
“The only thing I know in Austria is Nurmengard.” He says quietly, leading you towards the ticket booth.
He takes out a pouch of Muggle money from his pocket, purchasing two tickets from the woman at the booth. He hands one to you, holding the other as you walk towards the correct platform.
“I thought Nurmengard was a myth.” You whisper, looking at him as you both hand the conductor your tickets before boarding the train.
He shakes his head, sitting beside you in one of the cars and sliding the door shut.
“It isn’t.” He says quietly. “They say it’s been nearly abandoned.”
You swallow hard.
“Nearly?” You ask, and the sound of the train whistle echoes through the station as it prepares to depart.
He nods now, setting his hand on your thigh as the train launches into motion.
“They say Grindelwald himself has been kept there for years, and whatever magic is able to hold him there must be powerful.” He says quietly. “We just have to be on guard.”
You nod, leaning closer and resting your head on his shoulder as the station disappears from view. The rattling from the track lulls you into a sense of calm as the green fields blur by just outside the windows.
The sun travels in a steady path down towards the horizon, burning brighter and brighter into blazing orange and pink stripes before dipping below the earth. Stars dare to peek out of the blanket of darkness left behind, dancing alongside the train with the moon as the sky continues to darken.
Severus squeezes your leg softly as the train begins to slow, the lights of the new station illuminating the cars as we pull into the small tunnel. You both stand, stretching as you you’re your bag and look out of the window, the ring buzzing on your hand as you make your way down the narrow hall and down the steps onto the platform.
“Where to?” He asks, looking down at you with a forced smile.
You close your eyes, focusing entirely on the pull of the ring as it buzzes in time on your hand. You take a step forward, receiving a buzz in return. You turn to the left, taking another step, no buzz. You turn to the right, stepping forward and receiving another buzz.
“This way I suppose.” You answer, opening your eyes and pulling Severus’ hand as you lead him in the direction of the ring’s buzz.
You walk together through a small town, not taking the time to admire how cute and old fashioned it is as you keep following the pull. Eventually, you find yourself on a dirt path, trailing out towards hills in the darkness ahead.
Severus pulls out his wand, lighting the tip as you walk. The path twists and turns through the field before you, winding around and over the hills. You find yourselves breathing heavily, sweat beading along your brows as you walk.
“There.” Severus says, breathlessly as he points towards a hill in the distance. “Nurmengard.”
You follow his hand as it points towards a massive castle sitting on the top of the hill. The ring buzzes wildly, urging you forward.
Your clothes stick to your body as the air thickens with moisture, and you finally hear the crashing of waves against rock that tells you water is nearby.
“What’s the plan when we get inside?” You ask breathlessly, looking at Severus as you walk.
He shakes his head, looking back at you.
“I’m not sure.” He answers. “I suppose it depends on what we find.”
I swallow, nodding as the salty air somehow gets even thicker as you move up the hill. The moon lights the way down the crooked path to the door, and you stop in front of it, taking slow, deep breaths as you look up at the towers creeping overhead.
“Ready?” Severus asks, reaching for your hand.
You turn your gaze to him, nodding once.
“Ready.” You answer, pointing your wand at the door before blowing it wide open.
You brace yourself for an immediate battle, but find yourself staring at an empty foyer. A large, spiral staircase leads to upper floors, and you assume that that’s where the cells would be if this is a prison.
It’s eerily silent. Dust stirs up around your feet as you quietly step through the main floor of the building. The cold air from the sea creeps in through broken windows as you look for any sign of life, any sign of Nova.
Upstairs. Severus whispers into the bond, nodding his head at a faint trail of footsteps in the dust.
You nod, letting him lead the way as you both keep your wands drawn, staying alert with every step up the dizzying spiral. You step onto the landing of the second story, finding it just as empty as the first.
Again, you walk up the stairs, stepping out onto the third floor. This time, you find candles flickering in the darkness, breaking up the still air. Severus falls slightly behind, closing the gap between you and him.
The candles line the floor in perfectly straight lines, leading you to a room at the end of the hall.
A trap? You ask, shifting your gaze to Severus’ for a brief moment.
He shrugs.
Most likely. He answers, looking back at you.
You squeeze his hand gently.
Let’s do it. You push back.
He smiles softly, squeezing your hand before letting it go, stepping in front of you and leading the way down the path of candles. You reach the end of the hall, stepping through the doorway into the room.
A laugh echoes through the room as you do, and the door slams shut behind you.
You step beside Severus, and come face to face with your mother.