House Of Memories

Dear Ominis

*Flashback Eliza*
Teaching at Hogwarts had been fruitful in such a short time, she had watched students grow and flourish in their own skills and abilities, yet she had always known during the anger, the tears at midnight- she missed the touch of another.  Specifically one other. She should hate him for his actions and his behaviour, yet she knew when she read back in her journals she couldn't be mad at him. She had found a way to combine all her journals. Into one full of parts she preferred to keep.
Eliza had gone a few months of not writing a single thing when them months had her depressed on the inside but to the outside world she was fine.
It was then when he approached her. He knew all about her gift of Ancient Magick- what she had done in 5th year and how they had opted to stay out of it as it was being handled behind the scenes. He had at first let slip about another chamber, which shouldn't have peaked her interest but it had. When she had claimed not to be interested he had been harsher in the upcoming weeks, lettered with threats and how he knew of her one weakness and wouldn't hesitate to use it against her in any way he saw fit.
By the time she agreed to meet him he had been smug
"Glad to see you came round to my idea" keeping her distance and hood up she focused on the passer-by's
"You threatened me with Ominis. What else was I supposed to do?" He still had a hold clearly for her to agree to this insanity
"Good girl. He has a ring for you, you know. Bought it when you was simple teens in love with plans to propose after Hogwarts. Changed his mind after so long. Probably for the best since you now work for me" her jaw clenched, she hated that was how he saw it
"I don't work for you, you gave me no choice" His hand gripped her arm roughly; his breath reeked of ale and cigars, his cheeks reddened at her pointing out the obvious
"And you will do as you're bloody well told unless you want him in harms way!" Letting go of her she held back tears that threatened to spill over, don't show weakness, don't show that he scares you. Handing over a map with multiple crosses scattered about it she studied it
"What's this?"
"Places you need to look for that blasted chamber! What else is it going to be?!"  Nodding she tucked the map in her robes, curtaining her face from his with her locks, a singular tear dropped to the floor
"And if I find this for you you'll leave me alone and get back to teaching?" Taking out another cigar he held it in his lips and lit it up
"Of course, and your precious little Ominis will be safe, heck he may even come back to you one day. Just think with this chamber you can offer cures for people like him, then they aren't a drain on our society and resources" the pungent smell of smoke consumed her nostrils, wafting it from her face she resisted the urge to cough. Standing to leave he had one more warning
"Oh and Miss Dorian. If you tell anyone about this- I will make sure his body is delivered to you. Have a good evening"

She had studied each location for weeks, holding off on when to finally start. She had managed to delay it with excuses of students and meetings that would arouse suspicion if she wasn't there but he had grown impatient. After the 4th threatening owl she had packed up her things to prepare for the journey. But before she could bring herself to leave she made sure one more thing was set up. Something that would ensure no matter what happened to her that she would have the last laugh.

The first week of searching had felt like hell;ticking off one spot after the other, sliding down muddy banks into the most atrocious smelling streams and camping in blustering rain that stopped her from sleeping or insatiable heat that had her sweating profusely. Eliza had made sure not to tell anyone where she had gone or what was happening.

Time seemed to merge together after 10 days, her supplies had gotten low and she was grateful to those she could ask for water from- finding apple trees or edible mushrooms to eat in the nights. It hadn't crossed her mind to go into villages properly until she couldn't take it anymore by the time it came to searching the Gaunt crypt. Checking into a seedy little inn, the interior looked musky and hadn't had a renovation in a good few years. However the man behind the counter seemed nice enough when she had asked for a room. Out the corner of her eye she noticed something intriguing-a man who looked the double of Ominis besides his lips was thinner and had a constant sneer to his face. Swallowing her fear she walked over
"Excuse me, are you Mr and Mrs Gaunt?" Mr Gaunt looked up at her; he really didn't suit smiling, however false it may be
"Yes can we help you?" His eyes darted to her wand hidden up her sleeve, extending his hand for her to sit
"Thank you. I didn't mean to intrude Sir it's just I'm searching for my parents who are apart of the Nott lineage and all I got from my files was names of those who knew them and your names was on the list" his wife's eyebrows shot up, a spot of wine landed on the table, he looked at his wife almost angry that she had spilt a spot
"We didn't know they had a child. Yes we knew them well! Why some of our descendants are from them also. See being families who believe in pure-bloods a lot of us arrange our marriages within other pure-blood families so that we have the purest of lines along with a few extra gifts shall we say. A lot better than half-bloods or MUGGLES. Merlin the thought of it, it turns my stomach" his wife nodded along. The roots of her hair had begun to grey, however she had a mousey brown hairstyle with it curled around her face to make her features more refined
"Oh I see, what do you mean by extra gifts?" Mrs Gaunt lit up, excited to explain just how great they was
"My dear there are so many! Our family descends from Salazar Slytherin himself, those who are worthy of his gift are given Parselmouth abilities, where one can talk to snakes and be able to understand them. One of our children had the ability but he refused to use it. Some are expert duellists before they are 10 and have a knack for picking up spells than their peers. But if you come from the Notts line you would more than likely have an affinity for potions. Tell me, how was you in Hogwarts with Potions?" She kept biting her tongue, anyway to find out more on these people and where their crypt could be and she'd be out of there quick as she could
"I was quite good with Potions besides the occasional mishap when I was seated next to a boy named Garreth Weasley. I've heard someone who was in yay year with that skill to talk to snakes. Very good at it actually"
"Blind? Blonde hair?" Nodding he saw Mrs Gaunt clap her hands with glee
"Oh looks like he may not have turned his back on how we are meant to hold ourselves as the truest of families then! We thought he was going to run off and live with the muggles at this point. He'd probably cope better no doubt, he was always useless as a child and had the audacity to not return home when he was in his 2nd year! Can you imagine? Just leaving you're family like that!" Past the point of no return she couldn't tolerate them anymore
"He left because of you and your ways! You tortured him over and over with that awful curse! His hands twitched constantly because of the trauma you both inflicted and allowed your children to do to him too! You acted like you was better simply because you're descended from a Hogwarts founder but really you're just terrible people! I feel sorry for him that he has to even be related to you!"

Admittedly she should have held her temper and tongue a bit more then maybe she wouldn't be in the Gaunt home tied to a chair like a prisoner of war with Marvolo punching her ribs or face constantly for 'insulting' his parents, them things wasn't capable of being hurt. They just wanted to punish anyone who stood up and defied them! Maybe she should have been on better guard when she came out of the crypt, maybe she should have looked around to make sure nobody was following her but she had got sloppy, she hadn't been around many people and thought no one would have taken notice to the figure wandering a graveyard searching for names. Whilst it was one to tick off the list it meant she was no closer to finding the chamber, by now someone would be looking for her, hopefully not Sebastian! He had gotten softer in his time, more calmer. Chasing her up and down the country would have worn him thin very fast. But she had still opted to leave a note just in case anyone did figure out what she was doing.
"Marvolo darling, leave the girl alone and come help me with this" Marvolo slunk out the room, his knuckles bloodied and face had spatters on it. This was where she'd die, or at least be tortured until they threw her out to die on the streets. Wriggling her hands to get life back into them she noticed the little mistake he had made- he had only singular knotted one of her hands! Tugging it with some force the restraint slid off, not wasting any time Eliza bolted for the door. Footsteps not far behind her. Her legs kept pumping her to go further away, jumping into the nearby trees she kept on running until her lungs felt they was ready to pop. Gulping the air back she was free! But her search wasn't over she had to keep going.
Had to ensure his survival and hers.