Trial of Time: A Hogwarts Legacy Story

(P1) Chapter 15 - Shadow of the Relic

Lots of changes happened within the days that passed, as winter fell over Hogwarts. I befriended a Hufflepuff in my classes named Poppy Sweeting, and subsequently almost got captured by poachers with her while helping her free a dragon from an underground fighting ring.

That one was exhausting, to say the least.

I kept working on my magic, taking down poacher camps, fending off Ashwinders in the Forbidden Forest, and rescuing beasts. Professor Weasley and her house elf assistant, Deek, even introduced me to the Room of Requirement. I started spending most of my down time in there brewing potions, studying, and tending to some of the beasts I kept as pets in my Vivarium. Natty and I ended up rescuing Poppy's favorite hippogriff, Highwing, from poachers a few weeks ago. After that, I decided to put her in my forest Vivarium to keep her safe. So far, she seems to love it in there.

I've also been racing a lot with Imelda, who insists that I have to try out for Quidditch next year if Black finally reinstates it. She's the mostly unlikely friend I've ever made, I think. She's very funny to hang out with. Especially when we're around Sebastian, since they seem to have quite a distaste for each other.

I continue to wait for word from Lodgok, though nothing has come so far. I was surprised to receive an owl from Sebastian regarding the mention of an ancient relic.

C,

Meet at the catacombs outside Feldcroft. Don't mention this to anyone, especially Ominis.

S.

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Sebastian POV

I'll admit that I was surprised when she showed up to the catacomb. I was starting to think that maybe she was avoiding me after the scriptorium, that she was starting to become scared of me because I was able to use the Cruciatus curse on her. Even after she kissed my cheek, maybe the realization sunk in later that I have the ability to do such a horrible thing to her.

But I did it to save her. To save all of us.

I noticed she and Ominis had become more friendly recently, studying in the library together sometimes and talking between classes. Perhaps he held some admiration for the fact that she was unable to cast the curse on me. I prayed to Merlin himself that it was nothing more than that. If he ever admitted he was falling for her, I'd lose what little piece of sanity I have left.

Ciri jumps to the ground off of her broom, enchanting it and tucking it away. She smiles at me softly, the glow of the sun reflecting in her eyes. I am utterly hopeless.

"Thank you for coming." I say, sincerely.

We manage to make our way through the catacomb, fighting off dozens of spiders and solving puzzles to take down enchanted barriers. Finding a note from one of the students, Ciri reads it with a concerned look on her face.

"It mentions the Imperius curse."

I take the note from her and look at it curiously. "After the scriptorium, I wouldn't be surprised if we need to use another Unforgivable to get to the relic."

After some hesitation, I offered to teach her the curse and she accepted. "It may come in handy dealing with Ranrok and Rookwood's lot," she admits.

I nod in agreement. "Any spell that can save your life shouldn't be Unforgivable."

Ciri masters the movements and soon we continue down the path, coming across more and more spiders until we finally see it.

Sitting on an old table covered in notes and tomes is the relic itself, pictured exactly as described in the student's letter.

I take the relic in hand, staring at it in disbelief. This may be the answer I was looking for this whole time.

Ciri looks around the tomb uneasy. "Perhaps we should get out of here."

"I can't let you do that," a voice booms from the entrance of the room.

Walking towards us, wand out, is Ominis. Bloody hell.

"You lied to me, Sebastian! And you," he turns to Ciri angrily, "you are enabling him to do this. Don't you both understand the damage that could be done?!"

I ball my fist up to my side, trying my best to stay calm. Ciri looks at me, then steps forward. "Ominis, may we have a word over there?"

I step away reluctantly, giving them a moment.

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Sebastian POV

I did what I had to do.

I used the Imperius curse on a goblin to save Anne's life. She seemed horrified by it, and Solomon banished me from Feldcroft. Ciri tried to speak to him, but it's no use. He's threatening to turn us in to Black if he hears of us using Dark magic. He doesn't know we have the relic, though. I plan to keep it that way.

Ciri meets me at the top of the largest hill outside of Feldcroft. We sit together, watching the sunset in silence. She turns to me.

"How old were you when your parents died?"

"Nine. Something happened when they were downstairs with a defective lamp in the cellar, and..." I sigh.

She shakes her head. "You were just kids, Sebastian. There's nothing you could've done."

I look into her eyes, curious. "What about you? I've never heard about your parents or where you came from."

Ciri chuckles softly, "It's because you've never asked. And to answer... I don't have any. At least, I never knew them. They died when I was a baby."

My heart drops. "I'm sorry," I say genuinely. She shrugs.

"I'm assuming they were Muggles, but I'm not a hundred percent sure. I ended up in a Muggle orphanage for a few years before I was transferred to an all girls boarding school. That is, until my magic developed. Then Professor Fig showed up, and... here I am."

She moves closer to me, and lays her head on my shoulder. "I'm very thankful, you know. For you, Ominis, Natty, and Poppy. Even Imelda," she laughs. "I'm glad I know what it's like to have real friends. I used to not have anyone, really."

"Me too," I say, leaning my head on top of hers.

We sit in comfortable silence for a little while longer.