Ignition // Anne Sallow X Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 17: Welcome to Sixth Year

Ominis - September 1st

"I have to go, Ominis. I'll see you guys tonight at dinner!"

That was two and a half weeks ago. Neither Sebastian or I have seen her since. 

Sebastian barely ate or slept in those two weeks. None of the professors were much help in looking for her either. 'She's the Hero of Hogwarts, she can handle herself.'

But just because she was powerful, didn't make her invincible.

I trusted Ariel to take care of herself. She's indeed strong, powerful, the most feared witch to any who'd cross her path. It was known to everyone that she was an admirable explorer, causing her to be gone for a couple  days straight. Normally she ran into a classmate or two during her travels around the highlands. And, more often than not, found herself in a situation where she needed to be the hero. 

But two and a half weeks? That was incredibly unlike her.

"Sebastian, the ceremony's starting soon." I might as well have been talking to a brick wall. When an owl returned with the letter he sent, he knew there was something larger at play. As did I. 

He worries greatly for her.

 "We should be heading to the-"

"I don't give a damn about the feast, Ominis!" Sebastian's voice rang threw the nearly empty common room, "she's still missing, and nobody seems to care! All bloody year that girl has saved everyone, fixed everyone's issues herself, but the moment she's gone on her own accord? Nobody seems to care but us!"

We looked everywhere for her those two and a half weeks. Sebastian and I traveled through every bit of the highlands looking for her. Not a trace. Even the locals in each hamlet hadn't seen her.

There was something I was missing when we last spoke, but I'm not sure what?

"Ok," Sebastian said with an exhale, ready to debrief this again for the fiftieth time, "let's go over this again... what was the last thing you can remember from the quidditch game?"

"She got up to get a snack, she froze in a panic, then she said some rubbish about forgetting to work on potions for Nurse Blainey. That's all I recall." A defeated sigh escaped his mouth. This story has been played on repeat for two and a half weeks, and nothing new has come of it.

"There is absolutely nothing else? No small details that may seem insignificant?"

"Sebastian, I've told you for the hundredth time. We stood up and offered snacks, then after she took a step, she-"

"She what?"

Both of us paused. Clearly something I had said was a missing piece of the puzzle.

"She got up, and took a step, froze in panic, then left in a hurry."

The detail about her step made Sebastian's heart pound like a snare drum. He starting breathing erratically, and paced the floor so quick he could've left an indent. 

"Sebastian, get ahold of yourself, what is your-"

"Ominis!" He stopped all movement, "that's how ancient magic traces appear to her. If it calls to her, they appear in her steps to guide her."

The realization had hit me like a bludger. Ariel's ancient magic. Magic that has lied dormant for months, called to her once again. 

Fuck.

The silence in the common room was deafening. Her out exploring to find treasure was one thing, but when her ancient magic beckoned, blood shed was bound to occur.