Legacy Disowned - Book 2

Chapter 2 - What Comes Next

The next morning, Maggie had the previous day's failure rattling around in her head as she and the boys trudged up the Astronomy Tower stairs. Another dead end. Another cold trail. Another complete fiasco with nothing to show for it.

That had been their last solid lead on the Ashwinders. There was still Rookwood's family... But no, from what they'd gathered the rest of the Rookwood's had not involved themselves in his less than 'honourable' business practices. Maggie may have done a lot of questionable things in her life, but harassing an innocent family whilst they grieved the untimely loss of their black sheep just felt... icky.

No, Maggie was quite certain she knew precisely what their next move should be— and she didn't like it one bit.

There was no doubt in her mind that the man she suspected as Rookwood's silent backer was their best bet. She hadn't shared this with the boys, she didn't know whether or not she should.

Poking around into his affairs was an extremely risky business. Riskier by far than raiding scattered Ashwinder camps. But more than anything else, the thought of that man discovering she had found people she cared for— well, she didn't want to think of it.

They reached the 7th floor and began their familiar pacing till the door to the room carved itself into the blank stretch of wall. Maggie had only just stepped inside when Deek came running up in a panic.

"Oh, Miss Darling, thank goodness you are back!"

"Everything's fine Deek," Maggie replied quickly. "Sorry if we worried you. We just decided to camp out for the night—"

"It's not that, Miss Darling," Deek shook his head. "Deek has been asked to deliver a message. The Headmaster has requested the three of you report to his office. You are to be there in just ten minutes."

"Of course," Sebastian grumbled sarcastically. "I didn't want to get back to my research anyway."

Ominis agreed with an exasperated huff and the three of them turned right back around to head to the other side of the castle.

Disgruntled as the others seemed, Maggie couldn't help but feel a little thrill. As much trouble as she'd been able to find last year, this was her first time being invited to the Headmaster's office. "I wonder what he wants," she mused aloud, a small skip sneaking into her step.

"I imagine it has something to do with our O.W.L.s," Ominis sighed, "It's about time for them to be delivered."

"Oh, yeah!" Maggie giggled. "I totally forgot about those."

The gargoyle guarding the entrance to the Headmaster's office must have been expecting them. Because at their approach, it spiralled open into the staircase without waiting for a password.

"Well," Sebastian said warily, "We'll find out soon enough." He led the way up, Maggie and Ominis filing in behind him.

When they arrived at the top, they found Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black seated at his desk, travelling cloak still draped over his chair as though he'd only just arrived.

"Ah, you're here," he said briskly. "Please, have a seat."

Maggie hesitated only for a moment before she dropped into one of the chairs opposite the Headmaster, propping her feet up on his desk insolently.

Black's eye twitched but he didn't comment on her lack of decorum.

"Let's get straight to the point, shall we?" he said, as the boys took seats on either side of her. "I have your O.W.L. results, and there are a few things that need addressing before the start of term."