The Sallow Saga (Volume 3) A Hogwarts Legacy Fanfiction

Chapter 12. Marvolo Talks

Marvolo glared vehemently back at Garreth, who circled around him, like a lion stalking its prey. Cassy swallowed back a slight sting of guilt. The day she'd lost all control of her powers and the white-hot fury of the ancient magic inside her had taken over, still haunted her. She loathed every inch of Marvolo Gaunt, for all the atrocities he'd committed, but to lose one's capability to store and wield magic though? Knowing she had the power to withdraw that capability from anyone was enough to leave her feeling somewhat cold inside. Not for the first time since that catastrophic event, Cassy secretly compared her power to that of a dementor's kiss. It had taken her a number of days to overcome being possessed by such a force, the after-effects on Marvolo however, were nothing short of torturous.

Stuck in her musings, she failed to spot a silver gazelle leaping through forest, bounding up to the group with trails of silver power left in its wake. As it approached the gathered group it slowed down and Natty's voice was projected from it in a haunting tone.
"Sebastian has requested an update, I would not be loath of one myself. Are Cassy and Beanie alright? Any news on the gang of robed wizards? Any update will do, but specifically the welfare of our friends!" Its message delivered, the gazelle faded away into twinkles of light.
Cassy looked questioningly toward Garreth and Ominis, who both shrugged.
"You were gone for a while with no sign or word of success or failure of whatever it was you both intended to do. I sent a Patronus on to Sebastian to let him know we were on our way to look for you and would update him on whatever we learned." Garreth rolled his eyes, "I suppose I'd best send another one over to him with the latest news."
Cassy shook her head, "I think Sebastian would be more relieved to receive such a response from my Patronus. I can imagine he's tearing his hair out right now and won't be satisfied until he has evidence that I am safe and well."

Stepping away from the group and behind the trees, Cassy cast 'expecto patronum', focusing on the one memory that brought her immeasurable joy to recall. She'd learned the spell movements at Hogwarts in her sixth year, yet the memories she had were too weak in their happiness for a true form to be mustered. It wasn't until the concluding events of the year previous, when Sebastian had surprised her with their new home and the premise of a fresh start in life together, that she'd been able to produce her first properly formed Patronus while practicing a series of defensive charm work at the Gilded Perch. Admittedly, it had come as a shock to see a large black bear leap out of her wand, but after overcoming the initial shock and joining in with the wave of laughter from her friends; Cassy had grown to love seeing such a fiercely loyal creature conjured from her memories. As the same black bear jumped into the clearing, Cassy knelt beside it and conjured it to share the news of what had transpired, before concluding with; "my love, stay safe!"

Rejoining Garreth, Ominis, Beanie and Titania; Cassy noted that Marvolo was cackling wickedly.
"What's happening?" Cassy asked, curiously.
Garreth's arms were folded as he puzzled over the situation, "well, the truth serum still works on him, as I suspected it would."
Cassy would have beamed if it weren't for the juxtaposed reactions; "well, that's good – isn't it?"
"Hardly," Ominis murmured, glaring fiercely at his brother; "because magic isn't clinging to him, the potion's effects barely last long enough for a single shred of truth to be extracted from him."
"Oh," Cassy chewed at the inside of her cheek. What were they to do? If even Garreth's potions were unable to loosen Marvolo's lying tongue, there was very little they could do.

As the ponderous silence fell upon the group, Ominis suddenly jumped forward and pointed his wand at his brother. The simple act left Marvolo guffawing wickedly. Cassy and Garreth stared at Ominis, confused.
"What are you going to do littler brother?" Marvolo wheezed, "cast crucio on me? Eye for an eye? Retribution? Vengeance? You have to mean it you little weakling!"
Beanie squeaked in surprise, "Mr Ominis cannot cast such a curse! Not even on his wicked brother! Mr Ominis knows he will regret it for the rest of his days."
Ominis stared ahead at his brother, his face contorted in rage, spite, and anger; "this man, has caused me nothing but pain! He stripped your memories Cassy, he tortured me! He tortured Sebastian through harming you. Because of him Sharp is dead, Missy Norris died defending Hogwarts against those who were doing his bidding!"
"D'aawwww" Marvolo mimicked a whimpering dog, "is wittle Omi' hurting again? Might I remind you, little brother; that if it weren't for me, you wouldn't have had that education at Hogwarts. You wouldn't have made these pathetic excuses for friends! You wouldn't..." Marvolo's spite was cut short as with a force no one had expected, Ominis struck his brother hard in the face, breaking his nose.
"You encouraged father to send me to Hogwarts because you were ashamed of my inability to perform dark arts on the innocent, Marvolo! You didn't do it out of kindness, you did it to be rid of me!" Ominis hissed.
"I did it to toughen you up!" Marvolo spat the blood that had streamed from his nose into his mouth, out on the ground; "you were too busy hiding behind Aunt Noctua's skirts, sitting by yourself in the study unable to read, looking so pathetic and weak. I convinced father that being surrounded by your birthright would set you straight!"