Chapter Text
Professor Weasley stood at the front of the Transfiguration classroom. “Great work today, everyone. You all did well. Class dismissed. And remember - your essays are due next Tuesday.”
Sebastian and Cassandra stood up, pocketing their wands and packing their bags.
“I guess we’ll have to get started on that,” he murmured. “Hopefully it won’t take too long…”
It was only their second day of the new term, but he already missed the holidays. It was going to be difficult to balance homework, reading through Isadora’s books and researching Dark Sacrifices all at once.
“With any luck,” Cassandra agreed. She pushed open the classroom door and they stepped into the Transfiguration Courtyard. “We can probably start working on it after dinner. Ominis will be waiting for us to-”
“Cassandra,” a voice called.
They spun to see Nerida walking towards them slowly, an envelope held tightly between her hands.
“Oh, hi Nerida,” Cassandra said. “Wait, why weren’t you in class? You might want to speak with Professor Weasley. We have an assignme-”
Nerida jutted out her hand. “This is for you.” Her voice was steady despite her trembling hand.
“Oh, er, thank you.” Cassandra took the package from her. “Is this a Christmas gift? I’m sorry, I didn’t get you anything…”
She continued to shake, her blunt fringe soaked with sweat despite the cool air.
“Nerida? Are you alright?” Cassandra asked, tilting her head to look at her.
Sebastian narrowed his eyes as he looked at her. He’d never really known her that well, but the way she trembled, the vacant expression… it was as though-
Nerida reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a small dagger.
Merlin’s cock. Sebastian threw his arm in front of Cassandra and pulled out his wand just as Nerida brought the blade to her own throat. She cut it swiftly from left to right. The blood poured out in a rush.
“No!” Cassandra cried. She pushed forward to catch her as she fell, and students around them began to scream.
“Professor Weasley! Help!” Poppy cried, as loud footsteps thundered towards them.
Sebastian summoned a Wiggenweld from his pocket. He poured it down her throat as she gurgled bloody bubbles. But the wound wasn’t closing.
Cassandra’s breathing grew louder, and Sebastian could hear his own heart beating in his ears. It was too severe. He didn’t know how to heal this. He needed Ominis. He needed someone who could-
“Put pressure on it!” Leander said, dropping to his knees next to Sebastian. He pulled his red and gold striped tie from around his neck and held it tight against her neck. Nerida’s blood flowed around Leander’s pale hands.
“Let me try putting it directly on!” Sebastian said.
Leander gave the barest nod and lifted his tie just long enough for Sebastian to pour the Wiggenweld onto the cut. But all he saw was green mixing with red.
Another pair of footsteps came rushing towards them. “What’s - Oh my word!” Professor Weasley yelled. “Miss Sweeting! Take the Floo Flame to the Infirmary! Tell Nurse Blainey there’s an emergency!”
Green flashed in the corner of Sebastian’s eye.
Professor Weasley knelt down and pulled a handkerchief from her pocket. She put pressure over the neck as well. Nerida’s skin grew pale as she trembled, and her dark eyes, which had been vacant for weeks were filled with panic as tears flowed down her face to meet her bloodied lips.
“What happened?” Professor Weasley asked.
“I- I don’t know…” Cassandra stammered. “Nerida she… she took out a dagger and she-”
Nerida closed her eyes and her head lolled to the side.
“Nerida! Nerida!” Cassandra cried. “Oh, God, is she-”
Another green flash. “Good heavens!” Nurse Blainey said, running towards the five of them. She bent down and pointed her wand at Nerida. Her white apron was already stained red from the pool beside them. “I need you all to move your hands. Now.”
They all pulled their hands away, and Sebastian flinched as he saw the red soaking Nerida’s white button down shirt and Slytherin tie.
Nurse Blainey murmured an incantation, which closed the wound. “Mr. Sallow, Mr. Prewett, can I please ask that you help escort Miss Roberts to the infirmary?”
Sebastian nodded, and Nurse Blainey conjured a stretcher. His arms shook as he and Leander carefully picked her up. She was so pale. So weak in their arms.
They lowered her onto the stretcher. Without a word, he and Leander wheeled her over to the Floo Flame. Sebastian reached for the Floo powder, but as he opened his mouth, no sound came out. He tried again.
“I’ll do it,” Leander said. Sebastian met his eyes. For the first time, perhaps, there was a gentleness there. Leander picked up the powder with his right hand, holding tight to the stretcher with his left. “Infirmary.”
He disappeared in the roar of green flames, and Sebastian followed him seconds later.
Poppy held open the doors as Leander wheeled Nerida into the hospital. Two other injured students Sebastian didn’t recognise sat up in their own beds. They peeked over and let out a gasp.
Nurse Blainey arrived a few seconds after, and asked Sebastian and Leander to help her place Nerida into an empty bed. The three of them manoeuvred her off the stretcher with care as Cassandra and Professor Weasley appeared.
Nurse Blainey examined Nerida as Cassandra came to stand by Sebastian’s right.
“Will she be alright?” Cassandra asked, her voice shaking.
“It was close,” Nurse Blainey said without looking up. “She’ll need a blood-replenishing potion, and I will keep her for observation.” She stood up straight and turned towards them. “Could you tell me what happened?”
“We’d just left Transfiguration class and we were heading inside when Nerida called me. She had- she didn’t seem to be quite herself, and suddenly she took out that dagger and…” She shook her head. “I don’t understand…”
But Sebastian did. Not that he would say as much right then. Just as Cassandra didn’t mention the envelope that Nerida had passed to her, Sebastian wasn’t going to admit he suspected he knew exactly why Nerida had done it.
“Do you have anything to add?” Nurse Blainey asked, looking at Leander.
“No. Eric and I were across the courtyard. I didn’t see it happen.”
“And you, Miss Sweeting?”
“No, I only saw after everyone started…” She closed her eyes, turning away and letting her hair fall back over her ear, obscuring her face.
“I see,” Nurse Blainey said. “Well, I’ll keep her for observation for at least three days, and when she wakes up, we’ll see if she has anything to say.”
“If you can think of anything else, do let us know,” Professor Weasley said. Her hands shook as she tried to keep her voice steady. “And if you need anything… This was a horrible sight to witness. Please don’t hesitate to talk to us. Professor Ronen, Professor Garlick, and I will all be at your disposal respectively, should you need any of us.”
“Thank you,” they all said at once.
The four of them left the infirmary, walking side by side in silence through the corridors. After a few minutes, Leander and Poppy went off in opposite directions, while Sebastian and Cassandra headed towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts Tower.
She grabbed her plait and played with it. Her red hands coloured the blonde strands until Sebastian pulled her hand away.
Students murmured and pointed as they passed by, some gasping, and he looked down to realise his own shirt was speckled with Nerida’s blood.
He used the Scouring Charm to remove the blood from her hands and hair as well as himself. But even with it gone, he couldn't get the sight out of his mind.
He was surprised by how much it shook him. Shook both of them. They’d caused enough deaths between the two of them that he’d assumed he’d be numb to it… but, he supposed, killing goblins in a mine was rather different from witnessing a classmate attempt to take her own life within the safety of the school walls.
He tapped the five point star pattern onto the clock and opened the door, letting Cassandra enter first as he surveyed the corridor to ensure no one was watching them.
“There you two are!” Ominis said, closing a book as they passed through the gates and lit the room. “I was beginning to wonder where you’d gotten off to!” He rose from the floor.
“There was an emergency. Nerida… she… tried to commit suicide in front of us,” Sebastian said.
“What?!” Ominis took a step back, his face faltering. “Is she…”
“She’s in the infirmary. Nurse Blainey thinks she’ll recover,” Cassandra mumbled as she began to pace, reaching for her plait again.
“Nerida… I don’t… Why on Earth would she do that?” Ominis asked.
“Because she was under the Imperius Curse.” They turned towards Sebastian. “The vacant expression,” he continued. “The sweating as she tried to fight off that final order. From everything I've read, it has to be that.”
A shadow passed over Cassandra’s face. “Someone wanted her to give me this and then…” She took the envelope out, looking at it.
Salazar’s scrotum. Whatever was in there…
“Give… what?” Ominis asked, his eyebrows knitting.
Sebastian took a step forward, trying to stop her from opening it, but she ripped it open and pulled something out before he could take it. Her eyes widened at whatever she saw. She looked inside the envelope and let out an agonised cry.
Tears streaked down her face and the small photograph fell from her trembling hand, fluttering to the floor. Her knees buckled and she pitched forward.
Sebastian closed the distance, catching her before she hit the ground. They came to rest on the floor and he pulled her into him, wrapping his arms around her. She buried her face into his chest as she wept.
“What… what is it?” Ominis asked.
Sebastian reached out with one hand, the other around Cassandra’s back. He picked up the discarded photo and turned it over. His stomach plummeted.
Professor Fig sat tied to a chair, his face writhing in pain. His silent screams went unheard as what he presumed to be the Cruciatus Curse coursed through him.
Sebastian picked up the envelope and looked inside. He flinched and a wave of nausea overtook him upon seeing the severed index finger lying within.
“Sebastian? Cass?”
He picked the photograph up again, turning it around to see the message scrawled on the back and swallowed.
“Rookwood is torturing Professor Fig at his castle,” he said, tightening his arm around her. “He wants… he wants Cass to come alone.”
Cassandra had no more tears left to cry. Her head pounded as she sat on the floor in the Undercroft, curled up with her cheek resting against Sebastian’s chest. His arms and legs enveloped her. She knew they couldn’t stay that way forever, but she didn’t want to move.
She wanted to listen to his heart beat in his chest. To feel his soft breathing tickle the top of her head as he and Ominis spoke.
As though it was just them. Here. Now. As though they truly were as safe, warm, and carefree as his arms made her feel.
“He can’t, I’m sorry,” Ominis said, pacing. “Even if I asked him to set up a meeting, he’d need a good reason to interfere with another lord’s business and…” He sighed. “If my father knew about Ancient magic, Rookwood would be the least of our worries.”
“Then… then court her,” Sebastian said.
“What?” Cassandra sat up straight and stared at him at the same time as Ominis scoffed.
“She’d be safe. Rookwood can’t hurt an Untouchable’s partner, right?” He avoided her gaze, staring at the floor. “That’s how it works. You can… you can protect her. Even if it’s not real. It doesn’t help Professor Fig but at least-”
“That won’t work,” Ominis said, before Cassandra could protest.
“Courting doesn’t work for us like it does for the rest of you. She’d have to meet my parents first, for them to evaluate whether she’s suitable. And my father likes to use Legilimency as part of his process.” He shifted his attention to her. “I could never teach you Occlumency in time…”
“We’re on our own then,” Sebastian muttered. “We’ll need to find a way to-”
“No, we’re not on our own,” Ominis said. “There’s no reason we can’t speak to Professor Weasley. We’re completely out of our depth here.”
“If Rookwood sees a bunch of teachers coming, he’ll kill Professor Fig and them,” Sebastian retorted.
“They would come up with a plan, they wouldn’t just-”
“No,” Cassandra said. “We can’t let them find out about Professor Fig. They’d ask too many questions. We’d have to tell them about the Keepers, about all of it.”
“And as I’ve said, maybe we should tell them,” Ominis countered.
“The Keepers were furious that you two know, and that we went around their stupid rules. We haven’t figured out how to remove Anne’s curse yet. We might still need them and their memories. And the professors wouldn’t just take our word for it. They’d need to see the Map Chamber. We… we can’t. Rookwood’s note was clear. He wants me to-”
Sebastian’s arms tightened around her. “You are not confronting him alone,” he growled as Ominis protested in turn.
“No, I don’t mean… we just need a plan. We need him to think I’m going to come alone, when really it’s us.”
“This is insanity…” Ominis muttered as he began to pace anew.
“Which is precisely why it will work. He won’t be expecting it,” Sebastian said. “And it’s not like we haven’t faced him before. We can hold our own against him, as long as we’re together.”
Sebastian stifled a yawn as he tried to listen to Professor Clearwater’s lesson. He, Cassandra, and Ominis had snuck into the library last night and nicked an old blueprint of Rookwood Castle. They spent much of the night poring over it in the Undercroft to figure out how, exactly, they were going to break in.
It was three in the morning when Ominis went to bed, and another hour before both he and Cassandra had gone off to get some sleep as well.
“Now, who can tell me what the difference is between-” A loud knock interrupted Professor Clearwater. She walked towards the door and opened it, whispering with a person at the door before turning back to face the class.
“Miss Moore, Mr. Sallow. You two are wanted in the Headmaster’s office.”
Students around them muttered amongst themselves.
“We’ll see you later, Ominis,” Sebastian whispered.
The two of them packed their bags and met Professor Sharp outside the classroom.
“Sir? Can you tell us what this is about?” Cassandra asked.
“I’m afraid not. The Headmaster will want to speak to you himself.”
They followed him without a word, stopping when they arrived at the Griffin statue guarding Professor Black’s office.
“Toujours Pur,” Professor Sharp said.
The statue moved, revealing a staircase behind it. The three of them climbed and stopped at the wooden door. Professor Sharp knocked.
“Yes?”
“Headmaster, sir. I have Miss Moore and Mr. Sallow with me.”
“Come in.”
He opened the door and they stepped inside. Professor Black’s elbows rested on his desk, his steepled hands covering his mouth. His eyes blazed with a more exasperated look than Sebastian had ever seen him wear before.
Professor Weasley stood behind him on his left. A vaguely familiar looking Auror flanked his right. Her face was shadowed beneath a black, brimmed tophat.
The Auror stepped forward. “Hello. I’m Officer Singer. I trust that the both of you know the reason we called you here?”
“Nerida,” Cassandra said as Professor Sharp came to stand by Professor Weasley’s side. “She’s awake?”
“Yes. She told us a rather interesting story.”
Sebastian ran his fingers through his hair. What had Nerida told them? What did she know? He’d tried to sneak into the infirmary last night to modify her memories, make her forget anything to do with Rookwood, but Nurse Blainey had cast an Anti-Alohomora Spell on the damn door.
“So, now we’d like your version of events,” Officer Singer finished.
Cassandra began recounting the story they’d previously told Professor Weasley and Nurse Blainey, playing with her plait all the while.
“And… there’s nothing else you want to tell us?” Professor Sharp asked.
Cassandra shook her head.
“So you don’t recall Miss Roberts giving you an envelope?” He raised an eyebrow.
“That’s right!” Cassandra said, slapping a head to her forehead dramatically. “I must have dropped it after…” She trailed off.
“And you simply forgot all about this envelope? It may have had the evidence Officer Singer needs to investigate this matter.”
Sebastian bit back a laugh. It was absurd to stand here and pretend. They all knew that the Aurors would do nothing. Officer Singer was Rookwood’s woman. There only to maintain the illusion that the ministry would seek justice against the lords.
“Well, we were a bit preoccupied,” Sebastian said with a shrug.
“If I may,” Professor Weasley intervened. “Miss Moore and Mr. Sallow did all they could to help Miss Roberts. And I believe I know them well enough to say with confidence that they would never intend to impede any investigation.”
Officer Singer nodded. “We shall search the grounds. With any luck, we will find it.” She looked back at them. “Well, that’s all the questions that I have. I’ll take a sweep and then be out of-”
“Hold on,” Professor Weasley frowned as she twisted towards her. “You didn’t ask them… I’m sorry.” She turned back towards Sebastian and Cassandra. “It would appear that Victor Rookwood was behind the attack.”
Officer Singer pursed her lips, banishing any doubt in Sebastian’s mind as to where her allegiance lay.
“He was determined to give that envelope to you,” Professor Weasley continued. “If you have any idea why-”
“Professor Weasley. That is confidential information obtained from the victim,” Officer Singer admonished. “It is not for you to-”
“That man tried to kill a student in my care to get to another!” Professor Weasley said. Her face reddened and loose strands of hair fell from her bun. “He’s come after Miss Moore three times now, and his Ashwinders have somehow managed to evade arrest even when Professor Sharp here nearly hand delivered them to you. So, you’ll forgive me for overstepping.”
“If I knew something and could tell you, I would,” Cassandra said, twisting the truth in a way to allow her to speak without wavering, the subtle twitch in her hand noticeable only to Sebastian.
Professor Weasley studied her for a moment, and a beat of silence passed.
“Can… can we go?” Sebastian asked.
“One more question,” Professor Sharp said, his voice low as he stepped forward. “It would seem that our esteemed Professor Fig has not returned from his holidays. We know you were rather close with him, Miss Moore. Do you have any idea what may be delaying him?”
Cassandra hesitated. “The last time I remember speaking to him was just before the holidays…” She swallowed. “I’m worried about him.”
Professor Weasley nodded. “I know, Miss Moore. We all are.” She blinked rapidly. “If… if you do think of something, please, come to us straight away.”
She looked to Professor Sharp.
“I have nothing further,” he said.
They all turned to Professor Black, who stroked his goatee as he leaned back in his chair.
He waved his hands. “That’s enough. Dismissed.”
Cassandra nuzzled her nose under her scarf as she and Sebastian followed the trodden path down to Beasts Class. Her mind whirred as they whispered to each other about visiting Nerida in the infirmary, hoping she could tell them something that would help in their assault against Rookwood.
“Though I’m sure Nurse Blainey is going to keep a close eye on her, so we might have to be really discreet with what we ask-” Sebastian stopped, turning as the two of them heard an owl screeching nearby.
The snowy owl swooped towards them. She had an envelope with a faint red glow tied to her leg. She landed on Cassandra’s arm.
Cassandra looked around, but none of the students nearby seemed interested in what appeared to be a mundane delivery. She untied the package. The owl flapped her wings and flew away.
Cassandra's heart lurched as she turned the envelope over in her hand. It had the same scrawl written across it. Her hand shook as she reached to open it, but Sebastian pulled it from her hands.
“Hey!”
“Let me,” he insisted. His glove began to smoke.
“I can do it myself-”
“You shouldn’t have to.” He tore open the package. He stepped away from her as he pulled a photograph from it. His jaw set as he looked at what she knew must be another photograph of Professor Fig being tortured. He peeked inside the envelope and then tossed the whole thing on the ground. He pulled out his wand.
“Reducto.” The envelope turned to ash before her eyes.
“What was it?” she asked.
His blistered fingers poked through fresh holes in his gloves.
“More of the same.” He reached through his coat into his robes and pulled out a Wiggenweld Potion.
“Which finger was it?”
He was quiet for a moment as he downed the potion. “Thumb.” He flexed his hands as the burn healed.
How could she do this… how could she just go to class while Professor Fig was actively losing appendages? The world around her distorted. The air was too thin, she couldn't breathe. She couldn’t-
Sebastian’s arms crushed around her as he pulled her into a hug.
“He’s… he’s torturing him…” she sobbed against his chest. “And I can’t-”
“We’re going to rescue him, Cass, I promise,” he soothed. “We just need to finish making a plan, but we’ll save him. We’re not going to leave him there.” He rubbed her back gently.
Cassandra could hear students whispering as their footsteps crunched through the snow nearby. If they thought poorly of them for what may have looked like a moment of public indiscretion, she didn’t care. She needed Sebastian’s arms around her. She needed his comfort, his warmth.
They stood there for another few minutes, and then she took a deep breath and pulled away. He hesitated for a moment before releasing her.
“Thank you,” she said, sniffling and wiping at her eyes. “I don’t think I could have handled seeing it again.”
“You won’t have to. We’re going to repay Rookwood in blood. Just you and I.”
“Together,” she agreed.
Nerida poked at her Shepherd’s pie. She wasn't hungry, but she knew she had to eat something, or Nurse Blainey was never going to release her.
“-And you really didn’t miss much, but still, you can read my notes when you’re feeling up to it. Professor Onai said you can hand in your assignment next week - I don’t think anyone’s going to dock you for late marks,” Grace said, pausing only to take a bite of her own dinner, which was balanced on her legs as she sat by Nerida’s bedside.
“I’ll probably do that when you have to go for the night. Honestly, I just want things to get back to normal.”
“Nerida… I’m so sorry.” Grace put down her fork. “I knew something was wrong, but I didn’t think-”
Nerida held up a hand. “It’s alright, Grace. He told me to act as normal as I could while keeping an eye on-”
The doors to the infirmary opened, and Nerida’s eyes widened as Cassandra, Sebastian, and Ominis walked in, heading straight for her.
“You.” Something clutched around her chest. “Get away from me!”
The three stopped in their tracks, Cassandra having the gall to look confused!
Grace looked back at her. “Nerida, it’s only Cass, she-”
“It’s all her fault! That horrid man was in my head for weeks because of her! Because he knew that I know her!” Hot tears flowed down her cheeks as the memories came flashing back.
(She walked with Grace through Hogsmeade. They opened the door to Honeydukes, and suddenly all her worries drifted away. Say nothing. Act normal, a voice commanded.)
“Nerida, I-” Cassandra said.
(Rookwood scratched his stubbled cheek. The man in the green bowler hat beside him leaned across the dirty tavern table. “So who does Cassandra spend her time with then?”)
“You almost got me killed! I wanted to disobey him. I tried, but I couldn’t-”
(Theophilus Harlow passed her an envelope. “Give this to Cassandra Moore. Do not open it. Do not speak to anyone else. And when you’re done, take this dagger and slit your own throat in front of her.”)
“Don’t blame her for-” Sebastian growled.
“That’s enough!” Nurse Blainey interrupted, rushing from her office into the infirmary. She looked between Nerida and her would-be visitors.
“I’m sorry, but it seems your presence is distressing Miss Roberts. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
Cassandra shifted her gaze to the floor. She looked upset - surprised, even, to learn that she wasn't wanted there. The three of them turned and left, closing the doors behind them.
Nerida trembled and breathed in and out, trying to calm herself. Nurse Blainey wandered to a cabinet and opened it, the vials clicking against one another as she searched for something.
She came back to her side, a potion in hand. “This should help calm the nerves.”
Sebastian’s eyelids were heavy as he reached across the Slytherin table in the Great Hall to pour himself another cup of black tea. After Astronomy class last night, he’d headed directly for the Room of Requirement to finalise a plan with Cassandra.
They had agreed that they would travel to Feldcroft by Floo Flame, and sneak up to Rookwood castle using Invisibility Potions. They were going to go on Friday, once there were enough potions prepared.
They’d brewed late into the night, trudging on to bed just past four in the morning. He’d only woken up when his stomach growled and signalled to him that he was about to miss breakfast.
“May I have your attention, please,” Professor Weasley’s voice echoed across the Great Hall. He turned his attention towards the podium where she stood.
“Due to security concerns, no student under seventeen will be permitted to leave school grounds until further notice.”
The sound of grumbling students filled the room.
“We’ve shut down the Floo Flame by the school gates, and have added additional wards around the grounds. If you have any concerns-”
“Hmph. Just try to stop me,” Imelda muttered to Isaac.
All around them, other Slytherins seemed to be conspiring amongst themselves about how to leave the grounds undetected.
Ominis leaned across the table. “Well, I suppose it’s fortunate that we already have a way out.”
Sebastian nodded. It was unlikely that the professors knew about the one-eyed witch passage. He and Cassandra could take it to Hogsmeade and apparate directly to Feldcroft.
Professor Weasley stood at the front of the classroom, flicking her wand to demonstrate the correct motion to the Transformation Spell as Sebastian, Cassandra, and the rest of the class followed along.
“Good, good. Practise your wand movements. I will come around to make sure you’re doing them properly.”
Sebastian and Cassandra made the gesture with their wands as Professor Weasley surveyed the classroom. (“Perfect form, Miss Onai! 20 points to Gryffindor.”)
“What do you reckon happens if we used this on a person?” Sebastian asked Cassandra with a mischievous grin. “Would they turn into an inanimate object? A barrel or something?”
Cassandra smiled weakly. “Only one way to find out I suppose.”
He looked around the room, searching for something he could say to cheer her up even the slightest.
“How about I try it out on Duncan? With any luck-”
“Mr. Sallow, Miss Moore.” Sebastian turned around to see Professor Weasley looking down at them, a mix of concern and curiosity on her face. “Since you seem to be distracting each other, I’m going to ask that you, Mr. Sallow, go on and work with Mr. Prewett.”
“But Professor-”
“I won’t ask again.”
Sebastian grumbled as he rose from his desk, dragging himself over to Leander, who was seated alone. Leander quirked an eyebrow.
“What do you want?”
“Professor Weasley said we have to work together,” Sebastian muttered as he dropped into the bench next to him.
Leander sighed. “Fine.”
The two of them practised the wand movement in silence as Professor Weasley made her way around the classroom.
“How’s Nerida?” Leander asked after a few minutes. “Did you two go see her yet?”
“She’s shaken up by all of it but she’s recovering. I think. She… didn’t really want visitors.”
Leander nodded. “Okay… I’ll wait until she’s released.”
Sebastian hesitated a moment. “Thanks by the way. For helping her… us.”
Leander shrugged. “Wasn’t just gonna let her die.”
Sebastian didn’t know what to say to that, and a quiet lull fell between them. It wasn’t as though he expected Leander to stand by and watch as Nerida bled out, exactly. Sebastian just… he didn’t think he’d ever be grateful for anything Leander did. That they’d ever work on the same side. That Leander might actually not be such a… no. Sebastian wasn’t willing to go that far.
(“Not quite like that, Mr. Weasley.”)
Sebastian looked across to where Cassandra sat. She stared at her wand with a blank expression on her face as she lazily flicked it back and forth. Poppy sat on the bench to her right, shooting concerned glances and trying to engage her in conversation.
“A bit too harsh there, Mr. Sallow,” Professor Weasley said as she came to check on them. “A bit softer. Like Mr. Prewett here.”
“Yeah, Sebastian. Like me.”
Sebastian turned to look at his smug, freckled face as Professor Weasley strode over to Puffskein Dunkein. Now this was the Leander he was used to.
“I wouldn’t brag about being soft.”
Leander scowled. “Least I’ll be able to transfigure something today. You wouldn’t be able to-”
Sebastian pointed his wand at him and cast the spell. A red barrel took Leander’s place.
The class exploded into laughter, and Sebastian looked across the room to see Cassandra’s head thrown back, a hand over her stomach and a huge smile on her face. He grinned, happy to have brought it out of his girl.
“Mr. Sallow!” Professor Weasley scolded. She waved her wand at the barrel and Leander resumed his usual form. He glared at Sebastian, muttering under his breath that he’d get him back for it, but the light in his eyes betrayed him. He, too, preferred to resume their usual way.
Professor Weasley stormed over to the two of them, wisps of red hair loosening from her tight bun. “You will see me after class for detention.”
Cassandra rose from her desk as Professor Weasley dismissed the class. She picked up her bag and glanced across the room.
Sebastian pulled a sheet of parchment towards himself, preparing to write the lines conjured on the blackboard: I will not transfigure my classmates.
He looked up and met her eyes, and she gave him a nod before leaving.
The snow crunched beneath her feet as she crossed the courtyard. An owl screeched overhead and her stomach seemed to fill with stones. No. Not again. Please…
The bird - a tawny owl this time - landed on her arm. She untied the envelope from his scaly leg and watched as he flew away. She looked back at the Transfiguration classroom. She couldn’t wait for Sebastian.
She hurried towards the Undercroft, her mind whirring with wonder at which finger it was this time. She ripped open the package and pulled out the photograph. It blurred almost immediately as tears swam in her eyes.
Professor Fig was still strapped to that chair. The lightning of the Cruciatus Curse crackled around him. She took a shaky breath as she peeked into the envelope. It was a freshly severed middle finger.
Just one more day, she told herself. One more day. One more day of torture... One more finger... Would it be the ring finger, or pinky next? She swallowed back the nausea and took a deep breath. She had to put it from her mind before she went mad.
She went to put the picture back in the envelope and destroy it. But there was another photograph behind it. The air flew from her lungs. It was of Sebastian’s house in Feldcroft. She turned it around.
If your mentor isn’t precious enough to you, I could always take another loved one. Maybe your beau’s pretty little sister just down the hill?
This couldn’t wait another day. It couldn’t wait another hour. She had to go. Now. She dropped the contents on the ground.
“Reducto!” She watched as Professor Fig’s tortured face turned to ash. She rushed to her cauldron and began picking up as many vials as she could. Invisibility Potions – she definitely had enough of those for just herself. Maxima Potions…
A Thunderbrew. Normally she didn’t bother with them. They were too risky to use with Sebastian at her side – but if she was alone… she needed to brew a few. She rifled through her ingredients. She had enough to make five. It would have to do. But she needed more cauldrons.
The metal gates opened. She spun, relief flooding through her. Her heart sank when she saw it was only Ominis.
“Oh, hello, Cass. Where’s Sebastian?”
“Detention,” she said, forcing a calm into her voice.
“Ah, of course,” he said with a shake of his head. “Well, I suppose we’ll have to work out the plan with him later. In the meantime, why don’t we brew some more Wiggenweld? I’ll pass you the ingredients.”
“Good idea,” she said, her mind racing for an excuse. “Oh, shit! I just realised I forgot to start my Astronomy homework! I was supposed to chart the stars last night! Sorry, Ominis – I’ve got to run and find Grace or someone, see if I can’t copy theirs. I’ll catch up with you later!”
“Er… alright then,” Ominis said, brows knit in disbelief as she raced from the Undercroft.
Sebastian paced back and forth as he waited outside the Astronomy classroom, needing to move to stay awake now that his tea had worn off again. He was sure he would get a good night’s sleep this time - he would need it, after all, to confront Rookwood tomorrow.
He glanced up when he heard the classroom door open, and shifted his weight from one foot to another as he eagerly waited for Cassandra. A few more potions to brew, and then they’d be ready. Ominis was going to be livid when he found out they went without him. But he was sure they could come up with a good excuse on the way back.
Students began to file out of the classroom. Leander saw him and muttered something to Eric as they passed by. Grace’s blonde head came into view next. But she was alone.
Grace met his eyes, a haunted expression on her face.
“Oh, hey Sebastian.” She reached into her satchel. “Er, I have something for you.”
“Is Cass talking to Professor Shah?”
“No, um… she asked me to give this to you.” She offered a small piece of parchment. Sebastian took it.
“Where is she?”
Grace played with the strap of her satchel. “I don’t know. She found me in the common room. She seemed… odd. She said to give that to you, and then she…”
Sebastian’s stomach filled with lead. She wouldn’t. He unfolded the parchment and looked down at it.
Sebastian,
I received another while you were in detention. It couldn’t wait anymore, so I’ve gone ahead.
I’ll see you soon.
Cass
“Morgana’s cunt!” Sebastian bellowed as he stared at the note. It crinkled as his hands tightened around it.
“Bloody hell, Sebastian…” Andrew muttered. He looked up to see him and Garreth halfway out of the classroom door. Many students had stopped and were staring at him.
He turned on his heel, ignoring the murmurs around him, as well as Professor Shah calling after him. (“Mr. Sallow, Mr. Sallow! Come back here!”)
He rushed to the Room of Requirement, and looked around at the empty room. Already gone. Gone when? Merlin’s cock! She mustn't have been in class. Sebastian’s heart raced as he ran over to the cauldrons, looking to see what vials she’d taken. All of them.
How many do I have on me? He tried to calm his erratic breathing. He always carried some lately… he usually had… There’s no time. He had to go now. Whatever he had on him would have to be enough.
He left the Room of Requirement in a hurry and descended the stairs two at a time, struggling to catch his breath as he made his way to the statue of the one-eyed witch.
He glanced around quickly, and tapped it with his wand. “Dissendium.”
Cassandra crept up towards the castle's front gate, her arm extended forward so she would see the moment her Invisibility Potion began to wear off. She held her wand at the ready in case of trouble.
She started at the sound of a high-pitched wailing, almost as though a cat's tail had been stepped on. But the sound continued to ring through the air.
“An Intruder!” a voice cried. “Search the area!” She looked down at herself and let out a silent sigh when she saw that she was still invisible.
The doors opened. Footsteps sounded as scores of Ashwinders ran from the castle, wands raised as they squinted through the clear night, trying to find her.
She stepped into the courtyard and twisted her head back and forth. Through the darkness she saw a wooden door. She tiptoed towards it.
“Someone’s definitely here…” A wizard muttered as she snuck by him. “Homenum Revelio.” Something swooped over her, and her heart caught in her throat.
“Ha! There you are!”
She turned around, her Invisibility Potion fading. There was only one way out of this. She opened her robes.
“Accio Thunderbrew.” She uncorked it and drank deeply. The air pressure around her shifted, and her hair rose with the static.
She turned to her left, where an Ashwinder had raised his wand. “Levio-”
“Imperio!” she interrupted, forcing him to fall under her command. Kill them all. He turned as the boom of thunder mixed with the cries of scouts around her, struck down by the lightning emanating from above.
“Reducto!” Her ashwinder cast, disintegrating a group of his compatriots. She spun, her attention free to focus on the others.
Victor Rookwood leaned against the wall of the small, cramped dungeon, rubbing his temples as Theophilus used the Cruciatus Curse on the old man. His high pitched screams echoed around the room and made it nearly impossible to think or hear anything else.
He pointed his wand at the hostage. “Silencio.”
Theophilus looked back at him, annoyed. He liked hearing them scream.
“I was starting to get a headache,” Victor said, rolling his eyes. “And we won’t be able to hear if the Caterwauling Charm goes off with all that damned noise.”
Silvanus Selwyn shifted his weight in his chair as he played with his wand, bored by the whole affair. But if the girl did manage to get through his defences, he needed to be prepared. Especially because he knew she wasn’t coming alone. She would be bringing along those two boys of hers.
Theophilus and Silvanus knew they’d have to be careful in dealing with Ominis – the blind one, as it turned out – he would have to simply be disarmed and restrained. It was a risk to even do that much, but Faustus might forgive it. After all, Ominis invading his home would be considered an attack against Victor.
But the Sallow boy was fair game. Despite his friendship with Ominis, he wasn’t one of Faustus's King Cobras, nor did he belong to any other syndicate. Victor had made sure of that when he last spoke with the other lords.
Victor was looking forward to seeing him. Now that he knew that it hadn’t been Ominis on the roof that night, he wanted nothing more than to watch the life leave the pauper’s eyes.
A sudden lightness came over Victor’s spirit, and a small, vindictive voice whispered in his mind. Use the Cruciatus Curse on Harlow.
“No, no,” he chuckled, shaking it off. He wasn’t surprised to learn this was in her repertoire. Ominis was not shy to teach his friends all that he knew, that much was clear.
Victor pivoted towards the doorway, seeing nothing. “Hello, little hellion. Homenum Revelio.” Her shadowy form appeared, crouched in the doorway – and to his surprise – the charm detected no one else.
She stood up, her blonde hair and pale features fading in as her Invisibility Potion wore off. Her jaw set, not a trace of fear in her eyes.
Theophilus turned around, a smile creeping onto his face as Silvanus jumped from his chair.
“Did you actually come alone?” Victor taunted, grinning. Oh, this time it was going to be almost too easy. “What happened to your paramour and the little Gaunt?”
“Glacius!” Theophilus turned into a solid block of ice. “Diffi-”
“Imperio!” Victor cast. She stumbled backwards for a moment.
Tell me what you know about Ancient magic.
“No.” She shook her head and expelled him from her mind.
Impressive. Many of his lieutenants couldn’t even throw off the curse. If only she would work with him… but they were far past that possibility now.
“Have it your way. Crucio!” She doubled over, gritting her teeth as she tried not to scream.
She lifted one hand and a jar shattered as it made contact with the side of his face. Victor stumbled backwards, hot blood leaking from his cheek.
“Crucio!” Silvanus cast before the bitch could rise to her feet.
Theophilus thawed himself nonverbally. “Gonna pay for that…” He pointed his wand at her. Silvanus stopped and allowed Theophilus to take over. This time, she couldn’t stay quiet. She began screaming as she lay on the floor.
Victor turned at the sound of scraping wood behind him to see her mentor, still tied in his chair. He struggled against his bonds, anguish on his face as he watched her writhe. She looked up and met his eyes, forcing her mouth shut. His lips moved silently.
Right. Him. Well, he was useless now. “Avada Kedavra!” A green light flashed towards him. His head slumped down, lolling against his chest.
“No!” Her emotional and physical agony intertwined in a single scream. Victor turned back to her, raising his wand.
“Tell me what you know, and we’ll make it stop.” He silently hoped she’d refuse. He wanted to give her another taste.
Whether from the pain, or sheer will, she granted his wish. Theophilus pulled his wand away as Victor took aim.
“Crucio.”
Her screams echoed through the room, and he was tempted to silence her, but she fell quiet as she lost consciousness.
Victor lowered his wand.
“Silvanus, get rid of the body. Theophilus, tie her to the chair. We’ll take turns when she wakes up.”
Sebastian panted as he jogged towards the castle, the taste of blood filling his mouth.
He stopped abruptly just before the open front doors as a high pitched wailing went off. He glanced around to see who might have been alerted to his presence, but no one came running. In the courtyard ahead, dozens of burnt bodies lay skewed about on the ground next to shards of ice and broken vials.
He resumed his hurried pace and ignored the numb sensation spreading over his toes as the light layer of snow penetrated through his Oxfords.
He pulled open a wooden door to his right and stepped inside the castle. His heart nearly stopped as he heard a sound he’d hoped never to hear. The one he’d avoided in the Scriptorium.
He ran towards Cassandra’s screams, a venomous hatred filling his heart. I’m going to kill them.
The sound of his footsteps and the Caterwauling Charm were drowned out as he raced down a spiral staircase. He stopped at the end of a corridor, looking into a small, dark, dungeon to see Rookwood, Harlow, and a bald wizard with their backs towards him. Chains hung on the stone walls beside them, a pale lantern lighting the room.
He pointed his wand at the bald Ashwinder.
“Imperio!”
The invisible force flew from his wand and hit the man squarely in the back. He stumbled forward for a moment as Harlow and Rookwood turned to look at him. Cassandra panted as Harlow’s concentration broke.
“Ah, Sebastian is it?” Rookwood said with a smile, raising his wand. “I don’t think we’ve been formally introduced.”
Kill Harlow and Rookwood, Sebastian commanded. The Ashwinder raised his wand, but Sebastian could feel him shoving against the order. He pushed harder, compelling the man to obey.
“Crucio!” Rookwood cast.
“Left!” Cassandra cried. Sebastian twisted away. Pebbles loosened from the wall behind him where the curse hit.
From the corner of his eye he saw Harlow’s arm move, prepared to launch his own attack.
“Expulso!” the bald Ashwinder cried, forcing Harlow to turn his attention against his attacker as he blocked the curse.
Sebastian focused on Rookwood. A clear shimmer surrounded him.
“Crucio!” Sebastian broke through the shield and forced Rookwood to his knees again. His top hat slid off his head as he bowed before him.
“Avada Kedavra!” The bald Ashwinder’s mind left Sebastian's. The body fell to the ground behind him with a thud.
He twisted towards Harlow as Rookwood’s pained grunts stopped.
“Diffindo!” Harlow raised a protective shield in time, deflecting Sebastian’s cast.
“Avada-” Rookwood began. Thunder sounded from above, cutting him off as a bright flash of light filled the room. Rookwood yelped and Harlow lifted his arm to cover his eyes.
“Diffindo!” Sebastian cast again, aiming for the man’s throat. A thin, red line appeared where the spell hit. Blood squirted from the side of his neck. More flowed down his green vest as he fell to his knees, grabbing at the wound.
Sebastian turned around to see Rookwood grunting as he lifted himself from the floor. Their eyes briefly met. A wave of pleasure ran through Sebastian at the brief glint of fear he saw reflected there. He pointed his wand at Rookwood. He was itching to try out the Killing Curse for himself.
Rookwood muttered something as the words formed on Sebastian’s lips. He turned on the spot and disapparated with a crack.
“Coward,” Sebastian said. He turned towards Cassandra and his heart jolted. Her head and shoulders were slumped against her chest. But then he saw that she was breathing.
He ran up to the chair and bent to her feet. He pushed them away from each other with one hand and pointed his wand directly in the middle with the other.
“Relashio.” The ropes fell away and he moved to the back, repeating the procedure on her hands. She began to fall forward and he caught her.
Sebastian cradled her in his arms. He pictured the one eyed witch passage, just outside Honeydukes cellar and he turned on the spot, relaxing only when the familiar, narrow corridor enveloped them.
He shifted her, resting her head against his shoulder, and held up his wand just below where her feet swung.
“Lumos.” The path lit before him. He began walking towards the school. He didn’t know what hours of torture might have done to her. Or how using her Ancient magic until the point of passing out might have affected her. She needed medical attention. Now.
But he couldn’t take her to Nurse Blainey. She’d ask too many questions. He needed to bring her to the Room of Requirement. He needed Ominis.
Victor stumbled as he apparated to the centre of the dingy little hamlet. Damn that girl. He needed to get a hold of that magic she and the goblin could wield.
He turned around, narrowing his eyes as he tried to figure out which was the right house. All these yokels' houses looked the same to him. What had his scouts told him again?
His eye caught on a shed, and his gaze drifted towards the nearest house. He spotted the training dummies.
He lifted his boots from the snow and limped towards the defenceless house. Unlike Ominis, there was no risk to showing Sebastian just what would happen by killing his own.