Trial of Time: A Hogwarts Legacy Story

(P1) Chapter 20 - In the Shadow of the Tower

(author's note: thank you for all the new reads and for your patience with my posting :-) Life is crazy and I'm trying my hardest to get it together! I am SO excited for part 2, it's not even funny. I want to take this moment to reestablish their ages since I'm taking a slightly different route. The characters are all 17 turning 18 during fifth year, meaning they will finish seventh year turning 20. Part 2 will take place 8 years after part 1, meaning our characters will be around 25/26. And you can never guess what's about to happen... or the familiar faces that will be making an appearance :-) stay tuned! I'm hoping to wrap up part 1 in the next 2-3 chapters.)

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Sebastian POV

I feel like I'm walking on clouds as we're traversing through the most unpleasant of goblin-infested camps. Ciri and I flew to a cavern near Marunweem Lake together, and I'm embarrassed to admit how many times I nearly fell off my broom because I couldn't take my eyes off her. Her light hair falling out of her braid as she whisks through the wind, green eyes glimmering in the sunlight. After our reunion, I told her about the research I'd been doing. It led me to a tower tunnel near a cavern that the Loyalists were rumored to be investigating.

As fun as our adventures have been, I wished more than anything that we could stay locked in each others' arms in the Undercroft forever. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be a possibility. As long as Ranrok and Rookwood are around, she's in danger. I refuse to stand by and lose the girl that I love, the only person who could possibly help me find a cure for my sister.

The only hope for the wizarding world, it seems.

I watch her in fascination as we fight side by side, decimating the camps. She's powerful, a force to be reckoned with. I'm in awe as I witness her completely disintegrate a Loyalist commander.

"Sorry you had to see that," she mumbles, tucking her wand back into her holster.

"Don't apologize, darling. You were magnificent," I exhale, trying to catch my breath. "You'll have to teach me that spell, though!"

She frowns slightly. "Not sure if I can. It's..."

"Ancient magic?"

She nods. While part of me is almost envious of the power she holds, the bigger part of me finds it irresistible.

We could be so powerful together. Could burn the whole world down if we wanted to.

As we continue our way up the mountain path, I begin to feel impatient. "We need to take them all down quickly, in one swoop. Let's go!"

I start jogging towards the next camp until Ciri catches up and grabs my arm. 

"Shhh! We need to approach this stealthily."

"'Stealthily' isn't exactly my style, love." A small, mischievous smile spreads slowly across my mouth.

"Sebastian Sallow, if you dare-"

I don't hear her finish the sentence as I charge directly into the camp, taking out several goblins with a couple of Blasting Curses. I hear Ciri approaching, swearing at me under her breath as she picks off the remaining goblins.

"See, that wasn't too bad!" I dust off my hands as Ciri turns to me, a rather murderous look in her eyes.

"Sebastian, you could've gotten us killed! Stop with the theatrics!"

I try not to grin. "You're starting to sound like Ominis."

She angrily huffs at this statement and stomps onward, blowing right past me. And she says I'm theatrical.