Yule Balls and Old Foes

Chapter 22

A/N: Let's assume Corvinus Gaunt is a sixth-great grandpa to Ominis because this is modern day. Also, Sebastian gets all kissy, and Amit makes a hard decision and makes the hard conversation. Basically an emotional rollercoaster. 

Sebastian stepped inside the Undercroft one afternoon, removing his scarf and gloves only to realize how cold the space still was. Ominis and Norah followed close behind as he told them after Herbology that there was something he wanted to show them, something he knew Norah also knew about. It had been a few weeks since the Hufflepuff party, and the Yule Ball was closer than ever and it was all everyone could talk about including the teachers. That hadn't stopped them from going with Norah's plan during their weekend visits to Hogsmeade, already finding a few Astronomy tables in the area. They had agreed to visit the coast next for more of the tables during the summer holidays.

With winter break coming the day after the ball, Sebastian came to the conclusion that he needed to bow out. There really wasn't a chance for him with Norah, who seemed sure that she liked Ominis, and that Ominis liked her too. This would be the only time he didn't let his stubbornness get in the way, and yet, Sebastian was quite okay with it. Perhaps, he felt, he had long been okay with it for some time, even before knowing how Ominis felt about her.

And as he had suspected, that day in the Room of Requirement, he had a feeling Amit, Henry, and Natty knew of this as well. It seemed like everyone in their friend circle knew that Norah and Ominis liked each other except for them. Unconsciously, an amused smile formed on his lips at the thought.

His best friends were and are idiots. That was enough for him, he thought.

"Oh, it's so cold," Came Norah's shaky voice as she stepped in, brushing the snow off her shoulders. Behind her was Ominis, who seemed unfazed as he sensed Sebastian already waiting for them.

"Sebastian, what were you going to show us?" the blonde asked as they approached him.

"I found this among Norah's notes and letters a few weeks ago in the Room of Requirement," Sebastian immediately took out the old bit of parchment from his bag to show to them. "Where did you find this?"

Norah immediately knew what he meant. "Oh, when we went into the Scriptorium. I saw it on Slytherin's desk," She kept glancing at Ominis as she said it. "I-I actually had wanted to ask Ominis about this, or anyone who might know, but I feel like having undergone the cruciatus curse was enough excitement for that day."

"What do you mean?" Ominis asked curiously, his wand-bearing hand pointing at the bit of parchment Sebastian held up to him. "...His journal entry. You have Salazar Slytherin's journal entry."

"Yeah, and it mentions him being annoyed that Godric Gryffindor wasn't as obsessed with blood status and also," Norah pointed to the bottom part of the entry. "Putting a creature to sleep for a descendant of his to unleash on those unworthy of being here."

That part sent chills down their spines, and the blonde's expression stiffened. "Slytherin was never done with his pureblood mania...this is cruel," He muttered.

"Yeah," Norah nodded. She suddenly remembered her field guide. "There's also something I saw in the girls' bathroom on my first days here. There's one particular sink that's got the Slytherin logo on the tap. I know that doesn't sound out of the ordinary, but-"

The two boys knew what she meant. "You mean that creature thing Slytherin put to sleep is in Hogwarts?" Sebastian added.

"There is a chance, isn't there?" Norah turned to Ominis as well. "Somewhere in this castle, Slytherin placed a creature that can kill those he thinks are unworthy to study magic. And somewhere in this castle is the entrance to where that creature is."