The Girl who Vanished

Chapter 24

It has been a few days since their adventure into Slytherin's Scriptorium but apparently Sebastian has already found something in the spellbook. Lara walks into the Undercroft and sees Sebastian waiting for her.

Lara: "What did you discover in the spellbook we found in the scriptorium?"

Sebastian: "Salazar Slytherin's spellbook was a little difficult to interpret, but fascinating. Evidently, he encouraged teaching Dark Magic at Hogwarts. Neither the Imperius Curse nor the Killing Curse was unforgivable during his time. He believed students should be prepared to use Dark Magic when necessary - not to fear it. That's why we had to use Crucio to gain access to the scriptorium. He didn't want his knowledge shared with anyone who was afraid of the power of Dark Magic."

Lara: "I know we had no choice but I hope we don't have to do that again."

Sebastian: "And I'm glad we did it. Because in the spellbook I also found something else. References to a lost relic which from what I can tell, grants the holder the power to reverse Dark Magic curses."

"What!?!"

"Hmm, sounds too good to be true, what's the catch?" Dorea asks in suspicion.

Lara: "And you think this 'relic' might be able to save Anne."

Sebastian: "Precisely. I plan to search for this relic, but I don't think we should tell anyone. Especially Ominis. He wouldn't understand."

Lara: "We need to tell him. He's the reason we found the book and he deserves to know what you've learned. Not to mention we promised to not pursue Dark Magic."

Lily smiles at how noble her daughter is.

Sebastian: "You've seen how he frets about the Dark Arts. I promise - I'll tell him when I've found the relic. When I know more, I shall send an owl. And don't feel sorry for Ominis. Keeping this to ourselves for now is for his own good." He doesn't notice the man himself walk out from behind some crates.

Ominis: "I'll decide what's for my own good."

"Busted!"

Sebastian: "Ominis - We were just about to get some air. Care to join?"

Ominis: "You're a liar, Sebastian. I heard everything. You swore you'd never engage in anything to do with Dark Magic again."

Sebastian: "No I didn't, I said I understood you wanting that. I'd never swear to give up on finding a cure for Anne."

Lily and a few others growl, Sebastian is really starting to get on their nerves.

Ominis: "You don't know when to stop, do you?"

Sebastian: "I know when not to stop. Leave this alone, Ominis. I'll be on my way." He grabs the book and leaves.

Ominis: "I am not letting this go."

Lara: "Ominis, Sebastian meant well -" She tries to justify his actions.

Ominis: "I appreciate you telling Sebastian not to keep this from me, but going after that relic is not a good idea. Sebastian doesn't even realise it, but he's as irresponsible and reckless now as his parents were years ago. It's why they died."

Lara: "I knew his parents died, but I never heard what happened."

Ominis: "Mr and Mrs Sallow were professors. Spent nearly every waking moment in the cellar library - noses buried in books. Anne and Sebastian were upstairs when it happened. They heard a sudden crash and ran downstairs - but it was too late. Their parents had crumpled to the floor. A defect with the lamp in the cellar caused the room to fill with an undetectable toxin. Sebastian and Anne were helpless. They had no magic yet."