Hogwarts Legacy: The Price of Power

A Tenuous Plan

With the seventh-year mock-exams approaching with alarming speed, Sebastian caught Dracaena and Ominis in the common room one morning, the pair of them on the sofa, their revision spread before them.

"I was wondering if you'd like to join me," he said. "We've been cooped up in the castle far too long, we could do with a break, go out somewhere."

"Sebastian," Ominis said, drawing out his name with a low groan. "We've three days before our exams! I keep muddling up my Cheering and Chewing charms! Merlin knows what will happen if I try to make Ronen smile and end up forcing him to masticate his own tongue!"

"We can revise on the way, or just Floo it," he said, throwing himself down next to Dracaena and jostling her, making her bump into Ominis, who hissed under his breath. "I... really want to go to Feldcroft."

Dracaena and Ominis stilled, looking over at him. He wore a cheerful grin, but his eyes were sad.

"Of course," she said, before Ominis could speak. "I'm sure we could manage a quick trip, right Omi?"

He twisted his quill in his hands. "Yes, of course. It's... it's been a while."

Indeed, neither he nor Dracaena had ventured into the little hamlet since the end of their fifth year. They'd gone once, after Sebastian's expulsion, hoping to meet with Anne, to share in her sorrows, to comfort her. But she wasn't there. All there was in the cold, empty cottage was a note on the table, addressed to Sebastian. A note he never got to read.

I needed to get away from here for a while. I miss Uncle Solomon. I need time. I will always love you, but I don't know if I can ever forgive you.

There had been little point in returning after that. Anne had settled herself in London for a brief spell, before her pain had become too much, and she went to live at St Mungo's.

"What are you hoping for?" Ominis asked, his tone gentle. "Anne won't be there, Sebastian."

"I know," he replied, fidgeting a little. "But... I want... I need to go, Ominis. I don't know if it'll help, but... I need to. I need to remember her, just as she was, when things were still good."

Ominis nodded, and reached over Dracaena's lap to grip his hand.

"When?"

"Tomorrow? We can get some more revision done today, and I don't want to spend all day there. We'll be okay taking a few hours, right?"

"Of course," Ominis replied, his pale hand resting on Sebastian's tan wrist. "We'll take as much time as you need."

"Thanks," Sebastian said, settling back on the sofa and leaning on Dracaena's arm, peering at her revision notes and grimacing slightly. "I really don't feel ready for these exams... would now be an acceptable time to panic?"

"Let me check the diary," Ominis said, miming flipping through an imaginary book. "Hm. I can check you in for half an hour's worth of incoherent screaming on Sunday at three?"

"Ah, shit," Sebastian said, sighing dramatically. "I'm booked for a complete mental breakdown at two-thirty, I'll be running naked through the Great Hall, covered in paint and yodelling."

Dracaena, who had just taken a sip of pumpkin juice, sprayed it a clear five feet, drenching an unfortunate third-year who happened to be passing by.

"Oh, shut up," she said, laughing. "You won't be doing that!"

"You sure?" he said. "It might buy me some more time to revise if they think I've lost my marbles."

"Don't make me tie you to the sofa," she threatened. "I could do without that kind of distraction."