The Sallow Saga - Vol. 1 - In the Shadows of a Legacy [a HL fanfiction]

Chapter 13. Duelling in the Undercroft

In the Undercroft, the students were getting restless.
"Professor Gaunt? Is there anything we can do to help?" One of the seventh year Gryffindor's slowly approached Ominis. There was a murmur of appreciation from his fellow students, as each looked around at each other, puzzling over the sudden change to their curriculum. Ominis cleared his throat.
"Is that Albus?" He asked. Being blind, Ominis had learned to tune in to the tones and mannerisms of his students to help try and determine who was approaching him for assistance daily. Albus, for example offered his assistance as a guised way of determining what was happening around him. It was a unique way of asking for assistance Ominis had found, as the answer to the question normally provided an overview detailing why his assistance would be required and how vital a role it would play.
"Yes sir, my apologies, I should have said..." Albus was also remarkably polite.
"Very good Albus, I appreciate your offer." Ominis acknowledged; "in this instance however, I fear that there is very little that I can allow you to assist with. A selection of unpleasant figures has taken it upon themselves, to march on Hogwarts. I will be joining the rest of the academic staff now to assist... OUCH!"
"I'll be damned if you're going out there on your own!" Sebastian had stamped on Ominis' foot by accident, in a rush to stand by his side.
"Seb... Melisandre!" Ominis stammered shifting his weight off his sore foot, "I am quite capable of taking care of myself."
"Really? We've duelled together before, and I always bested you. What makes this any different?" Sebastian muttered close to his friend's ear.
Ominis whispered back with a mischievous tone.
"Because I held back in each of those duels, to prevent damaging your ego."

Before Sebastian could argue, the door to the Undercroft opened. Almost in unison, the gathered crowd of students both past and present, raised their wands defensively. Sebastian looked behind him at the assembled students and nodded appreciatively to them.

Footsteps hurried down the steps to the Undercroft. In a fit of panic, one of the third year Ravenclaws with a nervous disposition cast 'expelliarmus' toward the doorway, the blast hit an unknown wizard squarely in the chest. As no other footsteps seemed to follow these, Sebastian and Natty cautiously approached the unconscious wizard.
Natty gasped; "it is Crabbe! He was at Marvolo's mansion not a moment ago. It would seem he is having a very bad day."
Sebastian hurried up the stairs towards the Undercroft's entrance, after a few moments he returned.
"Coast is clear, how did he know about this place?" he mused.
Ominis groaned frustratedly, "the Undercroft has been a Gaunt family secret for centuries! It would make sense that my brother would share its location to those he deemed as close friends or (in his case) followers. After all, I shared its location with you. I just wish I knew why he was doing all of this!"

Natty pondered, "if Crabbe made it into the grounds, that means either the protective shields around the school have failed, or there is another secret way into the school that is being overlooked. Whichever option, I fear Hogwarts has been infiltrated and this Undercroft is no longer safe. We must get the students out to safety, can you think of anywhere safer than here?"
The room fell silent. No one could think of anywhere that was safer than Hogwarts. Out of frustration Sebastian cursed, making a few of the first years jump. Hastily apologising, he approached his two friends and whispered hesitantly.
"We could train the students?" He clenched his teeth and shied away from Natty who flew into a rage.
"Train the... They are far too young... no! It goes against all my better judgement!" She folded her arms, breathing heavily; "what is happening upstairs does not pass for an innocent training duel in Crossed Wands! It is real!" She glared at Sebastian.
"Precisely Natty!" Sebastian sighed frustratedly, "we have a room full of the school's students here, how do you expect just the three of us to fend off however many more that might be headed this way and ensure their safety all at once? If we can at least offer some basic training to them, we would have a defensive army here! Something thugs like Crabbe and his cronies would never expect!" Desperately, he turned to Ominis.
"Ominis, you and I both practiced spells down here and no one, not even Professor Hecat suspected what was happening right below her class. This room is soundproof, so long as someone keeps watch, no one is going to infiltrate here while we teach the bare basics of what we know!"

Ominis stood quietly, his brow furrowed in contemplation as Sebastian sighed exasperatedly, kicking at the hemline of his ridiculous skirt. After what seemed like a millennium for Sebastian, Ominis sighed.
"I suppose it wouldn't harm for the students to know some defensive and attack spells, Natty." He turned to the assembled students. Natty dropped her arms by her side in defeat, Sebastian beamed, and many of the students cheered.
Ominis addressed the assembled children, "those of you, who are in your first and second years, are to follow strict instructions from Melisandre on defensive spells." He grinned, feeling Sebastian's eyes bore into him. Sebastian had always loathed casting defensive spells, opting instead for the fiery attack jinxes.
"Third years and above, I will teach you some basic attack spells. I am hopeful that no one will need to feel the need to cast any of what you will learn today, nor should you feel inclined to cast any of these spells on each other outside of this unique situation, do I make myself clear?" There was a murmured agreement from the studentship.
"Very good," Ominis continued, "Officer Onai, please could you ensure that the entrance remains safe and secure?"
Natty sucked at her teeth, sighed and dejectedly marched up the steps to keep watch. She bound Crabbe up and obliviated his memory, before taking him up to the main entrance with her.

After a surprisingly short while, many of the students had gathered the basics of their assigned spells, which was just as well. There was a sudden explosion from up above. Natty vaulted down the stairs, just as the door to the Undercroft was blown inward by a fireball, skimming the hem of her cloak.

The assembled students, Ominis, Sebastian and Natty all took on a duelling stance as a barrage of witches and wizards stormed down the stairs. In the brief moment of surprise, they experienced at facing off against the school's entire student populace, many of the first wave of dark witches and wizards were successfully incapacitated by Ominis and several of the students. The enemies were quick to recover however and very soon, jinxes and curses were ricocheting around the enclosed confines. Sebastian and his assigned group of first and second years rallied together, providing additional protection where appropriate.

Sebastian cast a quick look around him and marvelled at his closest friend's duelling prowess – he really had been holding back, all those years ago. Ominis' wand was truly a secondary entity of its own! Whenever a spell came close to him, it would instinctively cast a protective charm around Ominis. While this feat on its own was fascinating to behold, Ominis' prowess at duelling was nothing to be slighted. Sebastian was overwhelmed to see he had learned how to cast without his wand! Once a curse had ricocheted off his wand's protective cast, Ominis would project a flurry of jinxes in the direction of the caster, never missing his mark!

With their combined efforts, it wasn't long until the dark witches and wizards were overthrown. Natty and Sebastian saw to binding each of them up. For extra security and to ensure they would not be able to break free, they took their wands for good measure, storing them away in a trunk at the back of the room. Natty appraised the group around her and smiled proudly at them all, feeling a tad guilty for having had some initial doubts.

After a moment of peace, where the assembled group quietly celebrated their victory, more footsteps were heard racing toward the entrance. Everyone returned to a defensive stance immediately, wands held high.
"HOLD FIRE!" Cassy's voice rang down the stairwell.
Seeing their seniors lower their wands, the students followed suit. Everyone relaxed as Cassy rushed down the stairs and made a beeline toward her friends, embracing each of them in turn.
"Thank goodness you're all safe! We set up protective parameters around the school, yet a small group have somehow infiltrated the grounds! By the time we'd found out, they'd broken down the shields. We feared the worst for you all, but I had to rule out our old hiding place."

Ominis frowned, "how on earth could they breach the protective barrier?"

Professor Hecat and Aesop Sharp quietly stepped into the room behind Cassy. Hecat raised an eyebrow at the assembled group and the heap of unconscious witches and wizards in the corner. She smiled broadly.
"I will be expecting every one of you to pass your exams this year after such a performance as this!" Approaching the group, she turned to Ominis and sighed sadly.
"In response to your question Professor Ominis, we have an idea; however, we cannot be sure. Miss Weaver and Sharp have both indicated they need you, Natty and Sebastian to join them on a separate mission to address some of the... lesser-known parts of the school. I will remain here and offer my protection in the meantime, Professor Garlick will be along shortly to be by my side."

Natty looked back at the group of students who all smiled back at her. There seemed to be an increased sense of security around them, with a more experienced teacher heading their small army.
Natty nodded, "of course Professor." Turning to Cassy and Sharp, she opened her arms; "please, lead the way!"