Life Goes On

Chapter 13: In the Depths

"So, the main rune on the platform on the hills represented electricity. The one you found in the cave in the forest appears to have been fire from the sketch you made. In the book I found there are details about a third platform and it's location which should be marked with the rune for water. There, we might find more information and hopefully another trail to follow. This book mentions 5 platforms but there isn't any information on the last 2. I can't believe you stumbled upon that second one. Lucky find I suppose." Sebastian was back to his old self. I had apologized dozens of times and he kept telling me that it was ok, he understood why I had gotten so upset.

I still felt ashamed.

"Yeah I can't really believe it either. I felt like... Like something inside me guided me to the butterflies, I don't really understand how all of that happened to be honest. I suppose I'm just glad I didn't almost die this time.

"I wish you would've talked to us before going off on your own." Ominis was upset about my outing, rightfully so.

"I'm sorry Omi, I didn't really plan on going out like that, it just sort of happened."

"Hmm maybe the magic is somehow calling to itself. Perhaps the power from the lightning that you absorbed first somehow connected you to the other platforms?" I could see Sebastian's brain racing.

"Perhaps." I honestly didn't know how I had ended up there in the first place.

***

A couple of weeks later we got permission to visit great aunt Cleo from professor Weasley for Sebastian's birthday. We worked extra hard to get all of our homework done and start working on upcoming assignments. We also made sure to hand off some of our head boy and head girl responsibilities to make sure we would not be missed.

Of course, we had other plans for our trip. This time, being more aware of the potential dangers of this excursion, we packed for battle, and I decided to bring Mr. Lily Petals along, as I knew he would love to run down the coast. Plus, it never hurt to have a graphorn on your side if anything went down.

"Alright, are we all ready to go?" Sebastian asked as he walked into Ominis's and my common room.

"Ready." Ominis stated.

"Mate, I don't want to stress you but, are you sure you're ready for this?" Sebastian was anxious about our means of transportation that morning.

"Sebastian, I've been practicing, it'll be alright, trust me." Ominis insisted as he held his hand out to for me.

"I trust you with my life Gaunt, but please, please don't splinch me." Sebastian put an anxious hand on Ominis's shoulder and suddenly we were being pinched and pulled in every possible direction. With in seconds we'd arrived.

"Oh fuck Merlin in the ass!" I heard Sebastian yell and groan as he hunched over clutching his stomach.

The coast was beautiful. The sun was bright, the salty breeze filled my lungs. I had taken a few beach vacations with my parents when I was young, memories suddenly flooded my brain and without realizing some tears rolled down my face.

"Ophelia? Are you ok? Did you get hurt?" Sebastian asked noticing my tears.

"Yes, I'm fine," I wiped my face with the back of my sleeve. "Shall we?"

Sebastian nodded hesitantly but did not ask anything else.

I let Mr. Lily Petals out of my nab sack. He was so excited, he ran laps back and forth leaving us and returning, only to do it again. Sebastian had drawn a map for us from the information he had found on the book and by reviewing that against maps of the area. Ominis held my hand for guidance but held his wand at the ready. He wanted to be prepared in case things suddenly took a turn.