𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Twenty: Gaunt Tales and Dragons

Chapter Twenty

As time goes on, things change, including the seasons. From once beautiful hues of red, orange, and yellow, the trees were now bare and a thin layer of snow covered the ground. It was surprising how much time had already passed and how much Matty had already done.

Since completing the Second Trial, helping Natty rescue Archie Bickle from Harlow and his Ashwinders (yet somehow Officer Singer still needed more proof), and so many other things, Matty had learned a lot. Thankfully, she had been given a bit of a break to focus more on her studies.

Both being able to use the Undercroft and The Room of Requirement was such a big help and recently she had come to love it even more with the addition of all the vivariums. Often times she went to the room just to see them.

On a chilly day, Matty was peacefully sitting at the Gryffindor table, chatting away with Garreth, Nellie, and Leander—mostly about things like Quidditch and how all of them were disappointed about it being canceled. It was much too cold to be hanging out outside so the Great Hall had become a popular place for most students to stay before they reluctantly had to walk outside to get back to their dorms or other classes after meals.

"I remember when Headmaster Black announced that Quidditch had been canceled. Everyone seemed so upset." Matty said with a small chuckle.

Nellie nodded her head. "We were, and still are. Quidditch isn't just something you cancel but of course, Headmaster Black would like to think otherwise." She said, rolling her eyes. "Just because he doesn't like it, he thinks he can get rid of it."

"Headmaster Black is an odd one, I'll say that much." Leander said, making a face.

Matty glanced over to the side and she saw Sebastian and Ominis walk past the Gryffindor table and to a hallway in the Great Hall that led upstairs. They seemed to be in a bit of a heated conversation. For a moment, she thought she should just stay out of it but at the same time, something told her that this conversation had to do with when she and Sebastian went to Feldcroft.

"Excuse me for a moment." Matty said to the three other Gryffindors before getting up and walking over. She kept her distance, not wanting to interrupt, but was able to pick up a bit on the conversation. Sebastian noticed her but didn't say anything for now.

"Anything to do with the Dark Arts should be avoided. It's too risky." Ominis said, crossing his arms.

The Dark Arts? Oh, this was going to be good.

Sebastian was quick to counter Ominis' comment. "Anything to do with Salazar Slytherin is worth the risk." He stated. Salazar Slytherin? It suddenly clicked in Matty's mind that they were probably discussing the Scriptorium that Sebastian had told her about just a few days ago.

But Ominis wasn't changing his mind either. "I can't agree, and I'll not say a word more. I'm sorry." He said before pulling his wand out and walking away.

When he walked away, Matty thought this would be a good time to speak to Sebastian. After all, just earlier he had requested to speak to her, probably about the Scriptorium.

"What were you and Ominis speaking about?" She asked.

Sebastian let out a short breath. "He's being ridiculous. Apparently, Salazar Slytherin had a secret scriptorium here in Hogwarts. The one I told you about a few days ago in the Undercroft. Ominis swears it was used for the Dark Arts, so he wants nothing to do with it." Sebastian answered. "I reminded him that Anne needs a cure. This 'scriptorium' could hold the answers we need."

Matty thought over this for a moment. There was a possibility that Anne's curse was a form of dark magic and perhaps they would find something there. "The Dark Arts do pique my interest—in the safest way possible, of course. But do you really think there will be answers in this scriptorium?" She asked, raising a brow. "Salazar Slytherin didn't seem like the most cheerful soul."