Only The Beginning

The Scriptorium

"I- I'm alright, just seems like Salazar Slytherin has some tricks for us is all." She glanced at her arm, the blood dripping down her fingers and onto the floor. The sound of cloth ripping echoed through the room as Sebastian untucked his uniform shirt and tore off a piece to wrap around the bite mark to stop the bleeding. She hissed as he tied it tightly, blood peeking through the brilliant white linen.

"Did that bite turn you into a snake? If you wanted to switch houses, there might have been easier methods." He joked with her, trying to lighten the mood, his hand lingering on her arm.

She chuckled lightly trying not to think about the painful throb she was feeling. "Let's just focus on getting out of here."

As she moved to go inspect the gate, she stepped right into Ominis who held her in place and stared her down, "Are you alright? Truly?"

"Yes, Ominis, all is well." She kept her voice level to not alarm him further.

"We can stop if you want, you don't have to keep going." She glanced between him and Sebastian, knowing what the answers that lie ahead meant to both of them.

"It's fine, really." She gently pulled out of his grasp and continued to the gate, stopping to pick up another piece of parchment on the floor.

I failed the dial, and it struck my face as if it were a real serpent. But I must find a way forward for my family's sake.

We should not require children to conform to old traditions. This scriptorium must have proof that there's more to our legacy than meets the eye.

Noctua Gaunt

She scoffed as she read the note aloud.

'Would have been great to know that beforehand.'

"Ominis, your aunt wanted to change your families' traditions."

"Yes, and she was my favorite person for it. She always protected me from my family."

Olive took note of the two symbols on the gate and returned to the dial, taking in a shaky breath she turned until they matched the gate. With a click and creek of old iron, the gate lifted revealing the way forward. The trio entered and set forth on opening the rest of the gates, some leading to dead ends, others going deeper in the maze. Along the way Olive continued to discover journal entries left by Noctua, she read them aloud to Ominis in hopes it would help him feel connected to her.

"This certainly looks welcoming." Sebastian said sarcastically as they reached the final room. The iron gate came crashing down behind them, locking them in this tight space with a single door at the end.

All at once the lanterns lit, revealing contorted faces all molded together to create a door, a faint scream was heard, and the words "CRUCIO" gouged into the floor glimmering in a mocking manner. Olive felt the guilt hit her like a wall as she noticed the pile of bones and a journal entry placed carefully beside them. With a shaking hand she picked up the entry and read it aloud.

I've lost hope. I'm locked in. I heard a scream and saw the tortured faces. The only way forward is with an Unforgivable Curse. Even if I wanted to cast it, I have no one upon whom to do so. Salazar Slytherin created a malicious challenge indeed.

In my last correspondence to my brother, I'd invited him here. Now, if he looks for me alone, I'll have led him to his death. Despite our differences, I wish him no ill. I wish we had parted on better terms.

Noctua Gaunt

"Ominis I-" Olive began and was cut off sharply.

"I knew I shouldn't have listened to you two! You cause nothing but trouble! My aunt died here, alone. This is where we will die too!" He began to pace rapidly, his breath becoming labored.