KEEP IT, LOSE IT (HOGWARTS LEGACY FANFICTION)

Chapter Twenty-One

the trio left Ollivander's shop and headed toward the Owlery. The evening sky was slowly being enveloped by the night, with a crisp breeze swept across the castle grounds as they made their way up the winding path. 

As they arrived at the Owlery, they were greeted by the soft rustle of feathers. Most of the owls were either asleep or quietly perched, though a few were active, fluttering between the beams and branches. The room was filled with the earthy scent of straw and feathers, and the occasional hoot echoed through the towering stone structure.

"Alright, let's start by checking each of the nests," Mary suggested, her voice echoing slightly in the open space.

The three of them began their search, each meticulously inspecting the various nests. Despite their efforts, they found nothing of note, just bits of straw and the occasional lost feather. As they made their way to the first floor, however, something unusual caught Mary's eye.

"There," she said, pointing toward an empty section where a statue of a bird was perched within one of the nests. The statue resembled a jackdaw, and it stood out in the otherwise empty space, as if it were waiting for them to notice it.

Sebastian stepped closer, eyeing the statue with interest. "That's the statue Ollivander mentioned. Why would there be a statue in here, of all places?" he mused. 

Mary's eyes narrowed as she considered the setup. The statue's placement, the surrounding empty nests—it all seemed intentional. 

"I think it's a clue," she said slowly, realization dawning on her. "If we can find the other statues and place them in the empty nests, we might trigger something."

Ominis nodded thoughtfully. "That does make sense. It's like a puzzle, and this statue is the first piece."

Sebastian grinned, clearly impressed by Mary's quick thinking. "I like the way you think, Mary. Let's find those statues."

The three exchanged determined glances and decided to split up to cover more ground. Ominis stayed on the first floor, his wand guiding him as he searched the nooks and crannies. Sebastian took the second floor, casually brushing his fingers along the stone walls as he moved. Mary made her way to the third floor, her eyes sharp for any sign of the remaining statues.

As they spread out, the silence of the Owlery became more pronounced, broken only by the occasional flutter of wings. There was a strange feeling in the air, a sense of being watched that none of them could shake.

Mary called down from the third floor, "Does anyone else feel like we're not alone?"

Sebastian's voice echoed back from the second floor, laced with a hint of humor. "Feels like the eyes of a ghost are boring into the back of my head. Probably one of those nosy spirits lingering around."

Ominis, on the first floor, couldn't help but smirk. "Considering our history with Peeves, I wouldn't be surprised if he's involved somehow."

As they searched, each of them found a small stone compartment hidden within the walls, and with a flick of their wands and a muttered "Accio," they pulled out statues identical to the one they'd found earlier. It was clear they were on the right track.

Eventually, the trio regrouped on the first floor, each holding a statue. As they placed them in the empty nests, one by one, a faint magical hum filled the air. The last statue slid into place with a soft click.

The last statue was placed in its nest, the trio stood back, waiting expectantly. But nothing happened. The room remained silent, and the statues didn't react. The three exchanged puzzled looks.

Sebastian sighed, disappointment lacing his voice. "Was that it? I thought something dramatic was supposed to happen."

Mary frowned in thought, her eyes scanning the room as if searching for something they missed. "There has to be more. Maybe we're overlooking something."

Ominis was about to respond when he suddenly tensed. "Wait... do you feel that?"

A subtle shift in the air began to make itself known—a faint breeze that didn't belong in the stillness of the Owlery. The breeze grew stronger, swirling around their ankles and quickly escalating into a spiraling wind. Mary's hair whipped around her face as the force lifted them off the ground.

"What's happening?!" Sebastian shouted, his voice barely audible over the roaring wind as he was pulled upward.

"I don't know!" Mary yelled back, grabbing for anything to stabilize herself but finding only air.

Ominis struggled to maintain his balance in the vortex, his hands instinctively reaching out for his friends. "Hold on to something!" he called out, though it was too late.

The whirlwind spun them faster and faster, carrying them higher until, with a final gust, they were dropped onto the third floor with a thud. The wind dissipated as quickly as it had come, leaving the three of them sprawled on the floor, dazed and disoriented.

Sebastian groaned, pushing himself up on his elbows. "What in Merlin's name just happened?"

Mary blinked, trying to steady herself as she sat up. "I think... the statues triggered some sort of magical mechanism?"

Ominis, who had landed near the edge, rubbed his head and let out a breath. "That was... unexpected. But I think we're not alone."

They all froze as they noticed a pair of ghostly feet hovering inches from the ground in front of them. Slowly, their eyes traveled upward to see the translucent form of a young Hogwarts student, his robes slightly outdated, his expression one of faint amusement.

The ghost grinned down at them. "Well, that was quite the entrance. You must be the first people to solve my little puzzle in centuries. Name's Richard Jackdaw—pleased to meet you."

***

YEEEESS NOW THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!