The Girl who Vanished

Chapter 22

Slytherin common room

It has been a few days since Horntail Hall, Poppy hasn't had any luck tracking down the dragon's lair. It seems Sebastian hasn't had any luck with Ominis either so he asks her to meet him outside the Slytherin common room. She spots him standing in the hallway outside the common room.

Sebastian Sallow: "You're here. Brilliant."

Lara: "I received your owl. What happened with Ominis?"

Sebastian: "I told him none of us will be able to avoid Dark Magic forever. So the more we know about Salazar Slytherin and the Dark Arts, the better prepared we'll be."

Lily is very concerned, she doesn't want her daughter learning Dark Magic.

Sebastian: "Unfortunately, only a Gaunt knows the location of the scriptorium's entrance and Ominis won't tell me."

Now Dumbledore was concerned, Tom is a Gaunt on his mothers side.

Lara: "Hmm. Perhaps I should have a chat with Ominis."

Sebastian: "You? I suppose it's worth a try, but don't get your hopes up. Ominis is annoyingly stubborn. Nothing new. I know where he is. I'll lead you to him and then leave you to it. Come on, he's this way."

He leads her down the hall, telling her to be careful as you never know who is watching to which she replies that they were caught by Peeves. After walking for a few minutes they round a corner and see Ominis pacing at the end of the hall.

Lara: "Hello, Ominis. Do you have a moment?"

Ominis: "What is it? What have you and Sebastian been up to now?"

Lara: "Please, Ominis, I confided in you before about what happened with the Undercroft. Sebastian simply wanted me to have a safe place to practise some spells - to try and catch up to the other fifth-years. He didn't think you'd mind."

Ominis: "(sigh) I suppose that makes sense. It's just - Sebastian's been pestering me lately about something and I'm frustrated with him."

Lara: "Don't tell me he's still going on about - what was it - a 'scriptorium'?"

"No subtlety at all straight to the point." 

Ominis: "He told you about that?"

Lara: "He did. We were talking about Hogwarts founders and he mentioned it. Wouldn't say much more, though."

Ominis: "Yes, well, he seems to think it contains the answer to saving Anne. I think it's likely full of Dark Magic that is better left untouched."

Lara: "Wait. You've never been inside?"

Ominis: "Of course not! I only know about it because of my favourite aunt - Noctua. She thought like I do. Didn't agree with the family on the use of Dark Magic. In fact, she'd hoped to convince my family that there was more to Salazar Slytherin than worshipping pure-blood status."

The pro pure-bloods scoffed, this boy is a disgrace to his ancestor and his legacy.

Ominis: "She'd heard of this 'scriptorium' and thought its contents might shed some light on him. She even found the secret entrance - in this very corridor."

The Slytherins lean forward, perhaps after this is over they can find this scriptorium and continue Slytherin's work.

Ominis: "She wrote regularly to my father about her efforts to gain access, and then she simply vanished. No one else ever tried to enter."