A Cruel Fate of Endless Devotion

Chapter twenty-five: When Darkness Fades

Melody had been avoiding the outside world, she couldn't bear the thought of facing a reality without Professor Fig. His office provided a sense of solace and a tangible connection to the mentor she had lost. Leaving that safe space meant confronting the grief head-on, something she wasn't ready for until Poppy's gentle persistence nudged her towards the first step of healing.

"Mel, did you hear what we said?" Garreth carefully asked, the feeling of his hand on her arm snapped her out of her thoughts.

"Hmm?"

"Poppy suggested we head out to the forest and take Highwing and the other hippogriffs for a ride around the lake. Would you like to come?"

Melody opened her mouth to decline, but Poppy gently cut in. "Some fresh air would be good for you"

"I appreciate the offer but I'm just not ready. I-"

She stopped mid sentence as a light brown owl swooped down, landing in front of her with a small envelope in its beak. "It's a bit early for mail, isn't it?" Garreth pondered.

                                                                                        Melody,

Ominis wrote to me about Professor Fig. I'm so sorry. Sebastian told me how close the two of you were, that he was more than just a Professor to you, he was like a father. I want you to know how deeply sorry I am for your loss. I know you're still grieving but I need your help. Something is horribly wrong. Sebastian wrote to me asking me to meet him outside a tomb in Maurrenwuem. He didn't sound like himself at all. I owled him back asking about you and Ominis and he said he wouldn't associate with traitors. Please Melody, I know you're going through a lot right now and I have no right to ask you this, but I'm scared for him. Please meet me outside this tomb by noon.

                                                                                      Sincerely,

                                                                                  Anne Sallow

Melody's heart wavered between hope and despair as she read Anne's letter. She knew deep down that she couldn't ignore the opportunity to bring Sebastian back, even though the pain of trying and failing before was still fresh in her mind. But she couldn't lose anyone else. Her heart couldn't take the loss of another person she loved. She had to try one last time.

Without giving her friends an excuse, Melody got up and quickly walked over to the Slytherin table, sliding into the open spot across from Ominis.

"Melody? Is that really you?"

"Hello Ominis"

"I'm so sorry about-"

"I know you are. Thank you" she curtly said, not wanting to go into the details of her mentor's death. "I got a letter from Anne. She's scared. Sebastian asked her to meet him outside the tomb. I think he's going to try and reverse her curse" she whispered.

Ominis couldn't shake off the troubling thought of the unpredictable consequences that could arise from tampering with such a powerful relic. He feared that Sebastian's desperate attempt might unleash unforeseen chaos and put Anne's life in even greater danger.

"We have to stop him. He could kill her and he would never live with himself"

"She's going to meet him at noon. If we leave now we might be able to catch her before she gets there but we have to move quickly"