POV ADA MARROW

I was stuck waiting for Professor Fig to return from the Ministry. I relinquished the book to him so he may examine it further, even with the missing pages. I hoped he may be able to figure out the next step but for now, I was dressed down out of school uniform walking through the countryside to visit Natty.
She wished to speak with me about something in a small hamlet not that far from Hogwarts. I kept my head covered with the cloak I wore, I did not need any Loyalists or Ashwinders recognizing me.
I saw her waiting for me right next to a fence, the talk was short and I felt invigorated by her tenacity. They had to be stopped and that feeling was solidified when I saw a Goblin crying on rock surrounded by wreckage.
"Oh what will I do?" He sounded helpless, so I approached him. Leaning over to rest a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?" I asked and the Goblin looked up at me.
"No I'm not, Ranroks' loyalist have gone to far. They are far too violent now. They took my carts, everything I ever had. Even my paintings! My life's work." My mind flashed to the poor goblin banker that Ranrok had killed in front of us. I had an idea why they would do this to their own.
"I take it they've had it out for you?" I asked, quietly.
"Yes and treat any who disagree with them as lesser. They have been threatening me for a while now." He held his hands, "I should have gotten far away from here once they showed up in the Valley."
I bit my lip, this would be dangerous. "Is their camp nearby?" I asked him.
"It's only a few minutes walk up the road, so avoid going near them. They'll loot and rob anyone that passes by, they don't care how old or young a witch or wizard you are."
I nodded, "Thank you for the warning." I glanced up the road and walked up the road, digging around in my bag. I had mandrakes, cabbages, and wiggenweld potions as well. I could do this, how many goblins could be at that camp. I can do this.

—

Ten, there were ten goblins hyped up on that reddish magic. I had gotten pretty beat up but they were all dead. Bodies lying lifeless on the floor and I flinched a bit seeing one chard from that lightning bolt I brought down on him.
I uncorked my second bottle, downing the thick contents and sighed, feeling that ache vanish and the cuts and bruises I had gotten disappear. I sighed and started rummaging around the camp for anything of importance but found nothing.
Then I went to the gate using a rock to smash the lock open. The gates swung open and I watched as the carts started to roll out on their own, leaving the camp to return to Arn, I glanced at the piles of trunks and bags the goblins had stolen then spotted a mask laying on the dirt.
I picked it up quickly running after the carts to jump in the back of one, feet dangling over the side. It was already getting dark and I had that feeling that I'd miss curfew. My back hit the wooden floor of the cart, staring up at the stars as they began to fade into existence with the loss of the sun.
Then I looked at the mask in hand, fingers running over the ornate engravings. Silver with a slight golden accent.
This could come in handy, it may be less dangerous to wander about off school grounds if my face was covered. I put the mask in my bag and sighed closing my eyes, it was only for a second but I suppose I had dozed off, having been startled back awake with a loud voice,
"MY CARTS!"
I shot up, looking around. I was already back in the Hamlet.
"It's you! You got my carts back for me, oh thank you so much." I looked down seeing the goblin offer a hand to help me off the back of his cart. I smiled and took it, stepping down.
"They won't be bothering you anymore." I said, grabbing my bag resting the strap on my shoulder.
"You are truly a kind witch. My paintings are all intact as well." My smile widened seeing how happy he looked, "I shall dedicate my next painting to you and our new found friendship!" He hopped up into his cart opening a trunk full of what I assumed was his clothes.
"I would love that Arn, I bet it will be beautiful." I watched him for a time, "I'll stop by this hamlet another time and see if I can stumble into you but for now I should be going."
His head looked back, "Oh please give me a minute I want to give you something." He pulled out a pouch full of galleons.
"Here take this, please."
"Oh no that's too much!" I held my hands up, eyes widening.
"I must repay you somehow!"
"The painting you make will be good enough!" I smiled and laughed at his generosity.
"You're so kind, you've definitely rekindled my faith in wizardkind." Arn smiled at me, "I'll get right in with that painting!"
I watched him for a bit, "Goblins really aren't treated well by my kind aren't they?" I asked softly, Arns reaction to my help was enough to tell me that any others would have ignored his pleas for help.
Arn looked at me and nodded, "We are treated as lesser, banned from using wands and limited to a few types of work." He murmured, "Everyone in the Hamlet just watched it happen, no one offered to help or any condolences..."
I could understand being treated as lesser, it hurt to be outcasted.
"Well Arn you have a friend in me." I took his hand and shook it, "I'll be back in a week or two to check in."
"You have a good evening my young friend!"
I started making my way to the castle, but not even a second after stepping out of the hamlet an owl flew by dropping a letter at my feet.

'Miss. Marrow,

Please see me in the Astronomy Tower Wing tomorrow after your classes preferably the hallway containing a Tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy

-Professor Weasley'

I groaned softly, it was going to be a good walk to the castle and a longer trek to the common room.
The next morning I woke up late and my entire body was sore. I had almost missed my first class and by the end of my last class I was ready to go back to sleep but I had to meet professor Weasley then after that Sebastian.
Professor Weasley had shown me something called the Room of Requirement, taught me conjuration magic and properly introduced me to the house elf Deek. I had wanted to stay there the rest of the night, decorating and setting up cauldrons and potting stands. I even made a chair and table for Deek to use.
I even had my own Floo Powder station by the door exit. I was already reinvigorated by this that when I did finally leave I had a bounce to my step. Excited to see what Sebastian wanted to show me. I spotted him, waiting down the stairs from the Dark Arts classroom. It was dark through the windows and the halls were empty. Most students of course were either eating in the great hall or getting ready for bed in their common rooms. So it was just us.
"Sebastian!" I hurried down the steps, he looked back and flashed me a smile.
"There you are, I had thought you ditched me." he had a lilt in his voice, I shook my head.
"No! Not at all. I got caught up with a lesson from Professor Weasley." I stopped beside him, "So what did you want to show me?"
He grabbed my hand and started to lead me off to the side towards a dead end wall, "You must promise not to tell Ominis that I am showing you this, he's like my brother and I'd like to keep the trust between us alive."
"I promise! Whatever you show me will stay a secret."
"I also am expecting you to tell me what it is you found in the Library." he stated, stopping us in front of an odd looking clock cabinet.
"I will, just not here." I promised him, he was still holding my hand.
"We can speak about it more in the Undercroft, it's private, not even the professors know about this place. There's a secret passage behind this clock."
"It's quite well hidden." I started looking it over, hand reaching out to touch the handles.
"Yes it is, watch closely. This is how you open it." I stepped back and watched his wand movements, the handles shifted and spun then the front of the cabinet popped open allowing us a way in. He motioned me to go first, making sure no one saw us enter into the clock. I walked down the steps, torches lighting the further I went down. Then an iron gate leading in swung open for me.
Stepping in I was astonished to see so much piled up against the walls, the pillars and braziers. The gate closed and I could feel Sebastian standing behind me.
"Oh this brings me back; Ominis, Anne and I used to come down here all the time... whether it was to play Gobstones or practice spells, it didn't matter. We'd always come down here to get away from it all." He walked past me to a column, standing there. His head motioned me to join him.
As I walked the click of my heel reverberated through the room, his hands were behind his back now as he watched me.
"Now remember, don't tell Ominis. He has no love lost for his family or their secrets but this place is just as special to him as it is to me." He sounded sincere, I nodded.
"I promise."
"Good now we can move on to why I brought you here, I think you'd be able to utilize this space to help with learning more... useful spells. Spells that are forbidden in Hogwarts, Professors don't think it's appropriate to teach this one but when you're in a pinch it can be very helpful."
"That's ridiculous.. If it's useful then why can we not learn it? We should be able to learn all spells." I pursed my lips and I could see his lips tilt up in a smile at my words.
"Because in untrained hands, Confrigno can be dangerous but you have me. So you'll be able to learn it safely."
"How dangerous?" I asked, leaning forward a bit to him.
"Set yourself on fire dangerous. Same risk as Incendio, but Confringo can be used at long distances. Ready to try it?"
"Yes I am." I pulled out my wand, and started to take off my school robes.

POV SEBASTIAN SALLOW

I watched her lay her school robe out over a crate, more likely to be sure she didn't singe it. My heart thrummed with excitement, having found someone who seemed to hold my own ideologies, I enjoyed teaching especially when Ada looked too eager to learn. Once she was standing back in front of me wand in hand, I pulled mine out.
"Now, just follow my wand movements, the incantation is Confringo." I showed her the movements and she tried to copy but she didn't get it right.
"No, no like this." I moved in behind her hand resting on her forearm to lead her wand into the correct movement, "Careful movements, when Ominis and I learned this spell we singed our eyebrows off the first time."
I saw her nod, my hand still resting at her elbow watching her wand work carefully. When I was pleased with it I let her go and stepped away,
"Now go ahead and test it on the hanging braziers, try and keep this place intact." She eagerly went off casting the spell for the first time, lighting the brazier up. I couldn't help but feel proud at how quickly she'd pick the spell up. I leaned back against a column watching her light the rest of them then quickly walked back over to me.
"That was amazing. " She was giddy with excitement.
"Spells like these are addictive." I teased her a bit, watching her as she nodded
"It's almost too much."I relaxed a bit, soaking in the silence between us, "Well I have a lot more I can teach you another time, but for now I'd like confirmation if you actually want to meet my sister."
"Well yes of course I'd love to meet her."
"Perfect, unfortunately you'd have to meet my uncle Solomon as well." My voice tinged with annoyance, that man was arse. He'd given up so easily on Anne and lashed out at me when I refused to give up. I hadn't left on good terms before arriving at Hogwarts.
I licked my lips, seeing her tilt her head, "Are you alright?" She asked, with that soft voice. She still had some baby fat in those cheeks. Making her face round and soft looking. It fit her rather well.
"Yes Ada, I'm just fine now about what you found in the Library." I tried to change the subject, just watching her. Examining the small things she did, how her back straightened as she went on about the book she had found hidden in the restricted section and the pages missing from it.
"That's no good. I hope those weren't important."
"I hope not as well, but that's not all. I found a Pensieve as well. It showed a girl who had arrived in her fifth year like I had. She was called Isadora." She held onto her hands, gripping them tight, "I think, Ranrok is after whatever this book leads to. He may also be wielding magic that I possess."
I straightened at that, "Are you saying a goblin is wielding ancient wizard magic?"
"Yes I believe so, but it's not exactly like mine." her hand went to rest over her chest, they were rather expressive even if she tried not to move them around too much.
"Well, we could help each other then. I've been studying ancient forms of magic, perhaps sometime down the line I can be of some use." She looked shy at my words, if not a bit uncertain.
"That is kind of you to offer but what I'm involved in is incredibly dangerous and I wouldn't want you to get hurt." Her voice was almost a whisper as she said it, her eyes looking down at her hands. I reached out to touch her shoulder.
"Think on it Ada, you shouldn't have to face this alone and do come here to practice as often as you like." I saw her glance up at me and her lips pulled into a weary smile.
"I will, thank you Sebastian for everything."
"Don't mention it, really I do not mind you've definitely made this year much more interesting and I'll send you an owl when I go to Felcroft."
She reached out, taking my hand and squeezing it, "Alright. I'll see you tomorrow Sebastian?" She asked, right we had detention together.
"That you will and I'll be sure to meet at the kitchen staircase to escort you there as well.I have a feeling you'd get lost in the dungeons." It was a bit of a jab at her.
"I would not." She sounded so defensive.
"So you do know where the dungeons are and where to go to get to the specific room for detention?" I questioned, leaning forward a bit more closer to her, I saw her cheeks turn red then she looked down at her hands still holding mine then looked me in the eyes.
"You know you've been holding my hand for quite awhile, if you want to stay a bit longer with me you can-" She let go of my hand.
"Goodnight Sebastian!" I watched her scurry out of the Undercroft through the gate. Snatching up her school robes on the way out. The hand she had been holding went to cover my mouth. Shoulders started to shake, she was absolutely precious and her reaction was priceless. I had to get a hold of myself before I left.

POV ADA MARROW

I was slipping on and fastening my robes back into place as I stepped out of the Undercroft entrance. Brushing off the dust and dirt that had gotten onto my robe. My cheeks felt hot, he had no filter he was such a-
"Ah Sebastian." I halted silent, eyes going wide as I glanced off seeing Ominis approach me, then he stopped, his brows furrowing. "You're not Sebastian." He raised his wand a bit more, eyes narrowing as he approached standing much too close for my liking.
"O-Oh Ominis! I wasn't expecting to see you here."
"Ada? What are you... Did you just come out of the Undercroft?" His voice was starting to sound a bit more harsh.
"I-Is that what it's called? I was just wandering and stumbled upon it-" Why was I so damn nervous, his hand gripped my shoulder.
"Don't you dare lie to me Ada, Sebastian told you about it didn't he." He was usually annoyed but by his expression he was quite angry and intimidating like this, "I swear Ada don't you dare tell anyone about this place, if you think I'm irate now you do not want to see me when I'm pissed off." his hand tightened.
"Ominis! I promised him I wouldn't tell a soul and I'll promise you now. I won't tell anyone. I know how special it is to you. He... Sebastian just wanted me to have somewhere I could practice spells privately." I was trying not to sound scared but my voice cracked just a bit. Ominis seemed to tense, his hand letting go of my shoulder.
"Leave." He gritted the word through his teeth, "I'm going to chew his damn ear off for this." I stood still watching him walk back into the Undercroft. I would most definitely not follow him back down there, in fact hiding in my common room sounded amazing. Along with a Lemon tart from the kitchen. I exhaled a breath I had been holding and started walking off to my Common Room.

POV OMINIS GAUNT

My hand felt along the bricked wall, I was still fuming but I hated myself for how scared she sounded. I had let my anger get the better of me, how could I speak to her like that... Now with Sebastian, I can speak to him however I damn well please.
"Sebastian!" I barked out, halls echoing his name.
"Oh Ominis fancy seeing you here!" He sounded surprised he didn't expect to see me down here.
"Don't play stupid Sallow, you told her about this damn place. I ran into her just as she left." I was trying to navigate to him.
"Now Ominis, please calm down."
"Calm down?! You promised to keep this place between you, Anne and I. You broke that promise!" I felt his hand try to rest on my arm, but I lashed out grabbing onto what I thought was either his robe or his shirt..
"Ominis..." His voice sounded harsh, "Ada can be trusted."
"We barely know her, Sebastian."
"I know, but I trust her." His voice was soft now, my jaw clenched.
"You're hopeless." I murmured, "I'm not even mad that you showed her this place. I'm mad that you didn't ask me! She tried lying to me to save your ass." I let go of him, pocketing my wand as I started pacing.
"I didn't think you'd let me show her."
"And what? You thought she could use this to her heart's content without me finding out? Sebastian, I use the Undercroft as well." I wish I could see him, see an expression.
"I... I suppose I didn't think that far ahead."
"Of course you didn't, you don't think." I huffed, stopping in my tracks, "You only act, no thoughts of your actions and consequences."
"You're starting to sound like Solomon." He sighed.
"I take offense to that." I countered, "Solomon has his points but his words towards you go too far. Now why were you both really in here?" I tried listening to get a clue to where he was, my head moving as I heard another sigh from him.
"I was teaching her Confringo... I thought it could help her..." my head turned in the direction of his voice.
"Is that why it seems slightly brighter here?" I could still perceive some form of light, even if I was blind.
"Yes, I had her practice lighting the hanging braziers." He hummed, "She picked it up pretty quickly." Why did he sound so pleased with himself?
"Oh Sebastian, please don't tell me you have a crush on her."
"I am not dignifying that with a response." I heard him counter back to me, "Anyway now that this situation has been smoothed over. I need to return to our commons, I have to be up early to escort Ada to detention." I could hear him walk away and hear the gate open and shut. I couldn't help the groan that left me.
"He's a damn idiot..."