Original Sin

Prologue

1906

Underneath Hogwarts

It was a sight to behold. A huge intricate sphere made from goblin steel holding concentrated magic inside of it. It was a shame, he thought, to keep all of this magic hidden from the world. It was downright selfish. This magic was not supposed to be kept; it was supposed to be shared but no matter. That is why he is here now. He intends to take it and show the world its wonders.

He moved closer to the vessel and with every step he took he could feel the pressure building around him. It was like swimming in the ocean, how the water closes in on you as you go deeper. He was breathing harder now but he walked on until he finally reached the vessel. Finally, he thought. Finally, I could cure Anne.

When he saw the memory of Isidora removing her father's pain, his hope was ignited. Curing Anne was still possible and with Henrietta by his side he was sure that they would. Yet, they did not. Henrietta was afraid that if they did what Isidora did to her father, Anne would never be the same. He thought it was foolish of her not to try. Isn't there a saying for predicaments like this? If you never try, you'll never know. Now that the ancient magic is within his grasps you can bet that he will damn try.

"I knew you'd be here". That voice. He knew that voice so well.

"Hetta," he said and there she stood behind him. Her hands were empty. No wand in sight.

"It's been a while since you called me that," she replied. Smiling sadly, remembering the days when he called her that. Those were blissful days. How she hoped they could just go back to how things were.

"Yes, it has. How many years has it been?" He asked.

"It's been five years since you left," she said as she closed in the distance between them. "Ominis misses you. He might be too stubborn to say it out loud though," she continued with a soft chuckle.

"I didn't take Ominis to be the sentimental type. Really? He misses me?"

A nod was the only answer she gave him. He turned to her and her gaze was cast downwards hiding from his own. He tipped her chin towards him and asked, "And you? Did you miss me?"

She then looked at him and he was not prepared for what he saw. Pain. He saw pain in those two obsidian orbs staring back at him. A single tear fell from the corner of her eye. Damn it. He hated making her cry.

Before he could think twice, he took her in his arms and put his lips against hers. Oh, how sweet she tasted. Putting his hands on her back he held her closer to him, detesting the air that came between them. Henrietta clung to him as if the ground seemed to have gone beneath her feet. All of their frustration and longing from being apart for years poured into that single kiss. Neither wanted to let go of the other.

Henrietta would not deny that she had dreamed of this for many nights. How she cried into her pillow as she said a silent prayer to God, His angels, His saints, or even the devil himself, whoever was listening to her to bring him back to her. She breathed in his familiar scent and for years she had never felt more at peace. This is where she belongs, in his arms, with him. He was her home.

Both wished that they could stay there in their own bubble of happiness but they know it won't last. The inevitable must happen. The vessel right in front of them remains a wedge between them that strains whatever is left of their relationship. They must deal with it now.

"Sebastian, my love, don't do this. Please. You know it's not right," she said pleading into his eyes. Hoping he would see it from her perspective.

"Don't —" his voice got caught in his throat, his emotions getting the better of him. There's too much anger and pain. He broke away from her embrace and turned his back to her. "Don't you dare tell me what I know. And how would you know? How would you know when you're too afraid to goddamn try, Hetta?"

If he were being honest, he envied her affinity to magic and her talent to wield ancient magic. He also loathed the fact that she refuses to use it to help other people, to help Anne. She never took up work that would show the extent of her abilities. She believed that the world would be better off without knowing its existence, that's why she decided to do business with Ominis where her powers would remain unused. What a waste of power.

"I tried, Sebastian. Don't act as if you weren't there. For years, I did everything I could to help Anne."

"You never really cured Anne! You never removed that God forsaken curse. All you did was prolong her agony!"

"It's because I can't remove it! Not without hurting Anne in the process."

"Is that what you tell yourself so you could sleep better at night?" he asked bitterly.

"I don't understand why I'm suddenly the villain here. I am not your enemy Sebastian. You think I don't know how you feel? Anne is my sister too and I don't want to lose her."

"No. You don't know how it feels. How could you? You've never lost someone. You've never had someone die—" he was stopped mid-sentence as Henrietta's hand landed on his cheek. She would not just stand there and let him talk to her like that.

"Professor Fig died in my arms. He died protecting the vessel you intend to break. I would not let his death be in vain. Even if it is against you Sebastian," she said.

"Then we have nothing more to discuss," Sebastian said as he drew his wand and pointed it towards Henrietta.

"I thought you've changed," she began in a somber voice, disappointment dripping from each word. "After you killed your uncle, I thought that that would be the end of your greed but you're still the same. You're still that same insecure greedy boy who doesn't know how to listen to reason. Maybe that is why you weren't blessed with such power, everything you touch you destroy just like your uncle, your relationship with your sister, your best friend, us."

"You'd know well not to antagonize the person who holds a wand against you, Henrietta."

"What makes you think I'm unarmed?" She challenged him.

"Very well."

For a moment all that there was, were the sound of their breathing. Waiting for the instant that someone utters a spell. A gust of wind blew and then it came, the first strike.

"Expelliarmus!"

-

Author's Note:

Hello! I'm Morgan and this is my first fanfiction. So I apologize in advanced if it's a bit unpolished. I finished the Hogwarts Legacy game and I had more questions than answers so I made this fanfiction to have some sort of closure. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did when I conjured it on my brain.

Thank you!