The Serpents Hold | Ominis Gaunt

Chapter Six

"Gran was showing me around Blackdown Hills, where she used to play with wild beasts as a little girl—"

Nova was partially tuned into Poppy's recounting of her half-term break, her emerald cloak and tie inconspicuously concealed beneath the Hufflepuff table. Her head was propped in her hand as she picked at the pastry on her plate, reducing its flaky layers to fine dust.

"We got the kneazle untangled from the thorns... We named it... Nova, are you listening?"

"Oh, I'm sorry, Poppy. I was just, uh..." She gestured towards her demolished breakfast. "Lost in thought, I suppose. You caught a kneazle?"

"Rescued!" Poppy corrected indignantly, "We managed to save the kneazle, and I named her Nova."

"Kneazle-Nova is lucky to have crossed paths with you," Nova smiled warmly, brushing the lingering crumbs from her fingers back onto the plate. "We both are."

Poppy's eyes sparkled as she beamed back at her, "How was your break? Feldcroft must have been lovely. Anne is such a gem, isn't she? We used to share an astronomy class. How's she doing?"

Nova's thoughts were still untangling from their earlier wanderings, making it a challenge to keep up with the rapid-fire questions. "Honestly, it wasn't great," she confessed. "I didn't get much time with Anne before her uncle and Sebastian got into a massive argument. I haven't seen him since everyone returned, and I'm getting worried."

"Have you seen Ominis?" Poppy asked, her words cutting through a large bite of croissant. "They're usually joined at the hip, you could ask him."

Nova's expression twisted into a grimace. "I make a point of avoiding him if possible. He tolerates me at best and doesn't exactly approve of our friendship."

"Because you're such a bad influence?" Poppy snorted, and Nova tried not to take offence. "Ominis is nice, I'm sure he'll help. I saw him heading to the Dark Arts Tower earlier. Do you want me to help you find him?"

"It's fine. I can tell you're eager to say hello to all your beasts."

~

Following breakfast, Nova dawdled at the threshold of the Undercroft. She had steered clear since Ominis had issued his threats, but it was the only unexplored corner of the castle in her search for Sebastian. Flicking her wand over the gilded symbols, she clung to the hope Ominis wasn't down there with him. That hope shattered the moment she stepped into the dusty abyss, instantly assaulted by the intensity of his deranged voice.

"Anything to do with the dark arts should be avoided, Sebastian. It's too risky."

"At this point, anything to do with Salazar Slytherin is worth the risk," Sebastian countered, his agitated footsteps pacing restlessly between the candlelit pillars.

"Well, I don't see it that way. I won't entertain further discussion on the matter. I'm sorry."

Nova might as well have been a ghost. Ominis strode past her with a silent indifference—an improvement, she had to admit, from their first encounter in the Undercroft.

"What was that about?" she joined Sebastian at a makeshift desk, creatively assembled from a precarious stack of trunks. "Is this where you've been for the past day? Sebastian, I was worried."

"I'm sorry," he attempted to console her with something resembling a hug, but his eyes and palm remained glued on scraps of parchment scattered across the worktop. "That book we stole states that Salazar Slytherin has a scriptorium here in Hogwarts. It turns out Ominis has known about it this whole time."

"A scriptorium?"

"Yes, there has to be a treasure trove of information on dark magic in there. There has to be some insight into curses." His initial enthusiasm gave way to a more solemn expression as he collapsed onto a chair. "Ominis wants no part in it, but only an heir of Slytherin can find the entrance. Whatever's in that room might hold the answers for Anne."